Malawi's Record Heat: 44.8°C (112.6°F) in Chiromo, October 2019

The highest temperature ever officially recorded in **Malawi** is 44.8 °C (112.6 °F), measured at **Chiromo** (Southern Region, Nsanje District, lower Shire Valley) on **October 22, 2019**.

Significance

• **National record** for Malawi.
• **Regional record:** Highest in the **Southern African Development Community (SADC)** — 16 member states.
• **Context:** Shire Valley is a rain-shadow, low-elevation rift basin; late dry season (Oct) + El Niño + climate trend = extreme heat.

Malawi's Climate Profile

• General: Subtropical; 3 seasons — Cool dry (May–Aug), Hot dry (Sep–Nov), Wet (Dec–Apr).
• Typical Max: 25–32°C (highlands), 30–38°C (lowlands).
• Warming Trend: +0.9°C since 1960; more frequent heatwaves, erratic rains.

Impacts

• Agriculture (maize, tobacco, tea) — heat stress, yield loss.
• Health — dehydration, heatstroke, vector-borne disease shifts.
• Energy — hydro dependency (90%+) threatened by lake level drop.
• Adaptation: Drought-tolerant crops, irrigation, early warning, climate-smart agriculture.

Chiromo's 44.8°C is a warning: Malawi, a low-emission nation, faces disproportionate climate risk.