The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services has reported that Tropical Storm JUDE has intensified into a Severe Tropical Storm, moving westward at 22 km/hr with a central pressure of 990 hPa.
JUDE is expected to strengthen further before making landfall in Mozambique’s Nampula province by Monday morning.
Forecasts indicate that its impacts will begin affecting parts of Southern Malawi within the next 12 hours, particularly in Phalombe and Mulanje. The storm is expected to bring over 100mm of rainfall within 24 hours, along with strong winds.
Districts at high risk include Dedza, Salima, Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Zomba, Blantyre, Balaka, Ntcheu, Mangochi, Machinga, Neno, Mwanza, Nsanje, and Chikwawa.
The department has warned of potential flooding and damaging winds in these areas from Monday onwards.
