MetMalaysia: Inter-monsoon season is starting

File pic dark monsoon clouds forming. - Reuters

PETALING JAYA: Seasonal heavy rains are falling but the sweltering heat which forced school closures for a day in parts of the peninsula is set to continue for now, said the Malay­sian Meteorological Department.

A MetMalaysia officer said the inter-monsoon season had set in last week with west coast states expe­riencing heavy rainfall in the past few days.

“But it did not help to lower the high temperature readings over northern and central peninsula and Sabah,” he told The Star.

Schools in Perlis, as well as the Jerantut and Temerloh districts in Pahang closed yesterday as temperatures there exceeded 37°C over a 72-hour period.

The closure announced by the Education Ministry was a precautionary measure to safeguard the health of pre-school, primary and secondary pupils in the affected areas.

MetMalaysia said that the public could expect more frequent rain with thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening, especially the west coast states, west Sabah and Sa­­ra­wak as the inter-monsoon progress­ed.

“As for Klang Valley, afternoon thunderstorm is expected in the next few days,” he added.

The highest temperatures yesterday (as of 1pm) were recorded Chu­ping, Perlis (36°C) along with Kuantan and Alor Setar (35°C).