8.21 MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPLICATIONS OF NOWCASTING IN MALAWI LUCY MTILATILA Department of Meteorological Services Malawi

OUTLINE:- 1.INTRODUCTION 2.CLIMATE OF MALAWI 3.FORECASTING METHODS IN MALAWI 4.USES OF NOWCASTING IN MALAWI 5.FIELDS THAT NEED NOWCASTING 6.NOWCASTING REQUIREMENTS 7.PROBLEMS FACED BY MALAWI IN NOWCASTING 8.WAY FORWARD 9.CONCLUSION

1.INTRODUCTION Malawi is a country with diverse resources and most of these resources are weather sensitive. The country boasts of the third largest lake in Africa Activities on the lake include yachting, recreation, marine and fishing. The country heavily depends on rain fed agriculture. Some activities that are weather sensitive are aviation, energy, small-scale businesses and water resources industry. Most users of weather have a perception that weather is a threat to their operations and not a resource in their planning.

2CLIMATE OF MALAWI Being in the tropics, Malawi experiences tropical climate with dry seasons during the months of May to November and rainy season during the other months particularly December to March. Average annual precipitation ranges from 700mm over lowlying areas to 2000mm over high grounds. Temperature ranges are from 14 to 24 degrees Celsius (57 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) between November and April to 19 to 32 degrees Celsius (66 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) between May and October. Tropical cyclones also affect Malawi during summer

3FORECASTING METHODS IN MALAWI 3.1Weather forecasts are based on:- Observations, Satellite imagery, Numerical products from ECMRF and WAFC. 3.2Dissemination Of Weather Forecasts Radio, television and newspapers Telephone Fax SSB

4USES OF NOWCASTING IN MALAWI Aviation Fisheries and yachting– mwera (strong southeasterly winds) warnings are issued on Lake Malawi Tea and sugar estates- for planning purposes General public in times of tropical cyclones Marine

5AREAS THAT NOWCASTING NEED TO BE APPLIED IN MALAWI Warnings in terms of severe weather such as thunderstorms. Small-scale farmers and businesses

6NOWCASTING REQUIREMENTS Nowcasting and warnings should be timely and reliable This can be achieved when all the required tools for nowcasting are available These include Primary data user system Weather radar Numerical Weather Predictions with high resolution.

7 PROBLEMS FACED BY MALAWI IN NOWCASTING Lack of mesoscale models. Lack of weather radar. use of synoptic scale systems.

8WAY FORWARD FOR MALAWI The other important tool which will help Malawi much in nowcasting is Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) that will be operational in the near future. Installation of weather radars. Using Mesoscale numerical prediction models. Public awareness on response measures. Reliable communication system.

9.CONCLUSSION There are many sectors in Malawi that are benefiting from nowcasting. There are areas that are needed to be improved so that nowcasting should be more reliable. Improvement of communication is a necessity when it comes to nowcasting and warnings. Public awareness is needed in response measures.

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