In the 2022-2023 rainy season (which started in November), heavy rains, strong winds, and thunderstorms have affected 24 councils of Malawi, causing floods, and severe weather-related incidents that resulted in casualties and damage.

According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs of Malawi (DODMA), 42 people have died following severe weather-related incidents, 85 others have been injured, and almost 42,000 people have been affected. Furthermore, the same source reports widespread damage to houses, schools, hospitals, and roads.

The affected councils are Balaka, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Lilongwe District, Machinga, Mangochi District, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mzimba, Mzuzu City, Neno, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Salima, Thyolo and Zomba District.

National authorities are providing relief assistance which includes food and non-food items for more than 37,000 affected people.

For the next 24 hours, moderate to locally heavy rainfall is forecast over southern Malawi.