It’s chilly in Kelantan, just like in the hills

Poor visibility: Vehicles emerging from the gloom as thick fog shrouds Gua Musang in Kelantan.

KOTA BARU: People in parts of Kelantan are feeling a chill, like on hilly terrains.

This is due to the north-east monsoon blowing from mainland China, originating from Siberia’s frozen region.

Malaysia Meteorological Depart­ment director-general Alui Bahari said on Sunday temperatures dropped to as low as 16ºC in Kuala Krai.

“But this is not the lowest recorded in Kelantan.

“The lowest was recorded at 15.7ºC on Feb 3, 2014,” he said in response to the chill felt by folks in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai over the past few days.

“From Feb 9 to 11, some other districts, namely Machang, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah, also ­experienced a drop in daily tem­peratures to minimum levels.”

Minimum temperatures are ­usually recorded in east coast states, inland Kedah and northern Perak in February.

The cold snap, especially in Kuala Krai and Gua Musang, is also the result of less cloudy skies.

Alui said when the skies are cloudy, more heat from the surface of the earth would be released to the atmosphere.

He said the situation would have returned to normal yesterday, as temperatures increased to 20ºC.

Kampung Budi Voluntary Patrol Scheme secretary Mohd Zahari Hasan said they were “chilled to the bone” as the temperatures had dropped to as low as 16ºC on Sunday.

“We have to sit around a campfire to warm ourselves up, and wear thick clothing,” he said.

Rohaizad Che Soh of Gua Musang called on motorists crossing the temporary bridge in Pulau Setelu to be extra cautious.

“Visibility has been greatly reduced by fog,” he said.

“At times, the cold wind blows even on a sunny day.”