Lilongwe – The Ministry of Higher Education in Malawi has announced the suspension of physical classes in several districts due to the imminent threat of Tropical Storm Jude. The storm, which has intensified in the Mozambique Channel, is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds to southern Malawi starting Monday, March 10, 2025.

According to the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS), rainfall is forecasted to exceed 100mm within 24 hours, with the possibility of severe flooding and storm-related damage. The most affected districts include Blantyre, Balaka, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Machinga, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje, Ntcheu, Phalombe, Salima, Thyolo, and Zomba.

As a precaution, the Ministry has directed higher education institutions, including Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), to suspend in-person classes from March 10 to March 13, 2025. The decision will be reviewed depending on the storm’s impact.

Students have been urged to stay indoors for safety and to follow weather updates from the DCCMS and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA). Meanwhile, universities and colleges are encouraged to shift to online learning platforms, and lecturers have been advised to provide remedial lessons when physical classes resume.

The Ministry emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety and disaster preparedness as the nation braces for the effects of Tropical Storm Jude.