Impact Storylines
Exploring how climate hazards affect people, livelihoods, ecosystems and infrastructure across Malawi.
Understanding climate risk through real-world impact pathways
Impact storylines translate climate information into concrete narratives of risk. They connect meteorological and climate hazards — such as extreme rainfall, drought, heatwaves, cyclones or landslides — with their consequences for communities, food systems, health services, infrastructure and ecosystems.
These storylines are designed for climate and meteorological professionals, scientists, decision-makers and the wider public. They help illustrate how climate shocks unfold, why impacts differ across places, and which adaptation measures can reduce future losses.
The Unbreakable Spirit of Chikwawa
This storyline follows how repeated floods, droughts and heatwaves affect households, agriculture, health and local resilience in Chikwawa District.
It shows how climate shocks can compound over time, reducing recovery capacity while increasing food insecurity, disease risks and infrastructure losses.
The Landslide Chronicles of Rumphi
This storyline examines landslide risk in Rumphi District, where steep terrain, intense rainfall, deforestation and exposed settlements combine to create high-impact hazards.
It highlights why landslide risk is not only a geological or meteorological issue, but also a land-use planning, infrastructure and community safety challenge.
Fisheries and Aquaculture in a Changing Climate
This storyline explores how floods, droughts, rising temperatures and catchment degradation affect Malawi’s fisheries and aquaculture systems.
It connects climate hazards with water quality, fish habitats, post-harvest losses, nutrition, gendered livelihoods and adaptation priorities.
Cyclone Freddy and the Climate Risk Challenge
This storyline presents Cyclone Freddy as a high-impact event that combined exceptional rainfall, flooding, landslides and widespread infrastructure disruption.
It illustrates the importance of impact-based forecasting, early warning systems, preparedness, resilient infrastructure and long-term adaptation planning.
From climate information to action
Together, these storylines demonstrate how climate information can support preparedness, adaptation planning and public understanding. They show that reducing climate risk requires not only better data, but also stronger institutions, targeted investments, inclusive planning and locally grounded resilience actions.