The heat will go on for another three months, says dept

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians must brace themselves for hot and dry weather for the next three more months at the least. This is because effects of the southwest monsoon is on course to be boosted by the El Nino phenomenon.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said though there would be a respite this week with isolated rains in several areas in the country, the dry weather would continue until September, at the least.

“Isolated rains are forecast due to the weakening in wind speed and availability of moisture,” MetMalaysia said in a statement yesterday.

“El Nino has not been established yet, but the majority of climate prediction centres worldwide expect it to develop in the next few months,” it said.

MetMalaysia noted that rain over the past weekend reduced the impact of the hot weather, which hit a maximum 33.6°C in the peninsula and 32.8°C in Sabah and Sarawak.

However, it warned that temperatures could spike to 36°C when the El Nino phenomenon emerged.

The department did not comment on whether the unfavourable weather conditions would have an impact on water supply.

On the haze situation, the Department of Environment said 40 areas recorded good air quality readings yesterday, while 10 areas, mostly in Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Terengganu, Muar, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, recorded moderate readings.

This was a marked improvement from Sunday, which showed 24 areas with moderate air quality levels and 26 others with good air quality.