Weather to only get hotter, says dept

Refreshing relief: Faris Haziq (left) and his friend Muryid Mohd drinking coconut water during a hot day in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

PETALING JAYA: Ants have been entering homes and drinking from water pots and jars, a sign that they too are dehydrated from the hot and dry season.

While Malaysians have been feeling the heat over the past one week, the Malaysian Meteorological Department warned that the coming months would be worse.

Its director-general Alui Bahari said the south-west monsoon which began on Thursday would end only in September.

Alui said the weather condition would bring with it less rain to Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak but Sabah would experience more rainfall.

He said the fluctuation between hot and wet conditions occurred because the heat brought about convective activity, resulting in thunderstorms in the late evening.

“This is expected to occur until the end of the month,” said Alui.

“After May, the weather will then be dryer,” he added.

But Alui said the west coast would experience occasional thunderstorms, heavy rain, as well strong winds, especially in the early morning as a result of the forming of a squall line on the Straits of Malacca.

The inland of the peninsula was also expected to experience rain and thunderstorms in one or two locations in the late evening and night, he added.

The public can get weather updates on www.met.gov.my or the myCuaca mobile app, on Facebook: malaysiamet, via Twitter @malaysiamet or through the MetMalaysia hotline at 130022-1MET(638).

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association executive committee member Dr Maryati Maharon said the fluctuation between heat and rain was causing most people to fall sick.

She said more patients were having coughs, bouts of influenza and upper respiratory tract infections, with many losing their voices temporarily.

“People should increase their water intake if they go outdoors by at least one litre from the normal three litres or eight glasses a day,” she said.

Dr Maryati advised people to avoid direct sunlight and apply sun block when going out to prevent overexposure.

“Sugary drinks and salty food should also be cut down.

“They should eat more fruits such as pineapples, cucumber and watermelon,” she said.

“Having a headache and feeling tired are signs of mild dehydration.”