Adults and youngsters stay inside to beat the heat

People love to drink coconut water during hot weather.Pix by Gary Chen/ The Star/ 12 August 2018.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has been experiencing hot weather despite being hit by two freak storms earlier.

It is now the South-West monsoon season, but there has been no sign of rain since the July 30 and April 8 storms that caused flash floods, uprooted trees, ripped open zinc roofs and caused a billboard to topple.

Engineer B.L. Lam, 44, said the extremely hot weather over the past few days made him feel sleepy, so he did not go out much.

“I tend to take a nap in my air-conditioned bedroom instead of going out with my family. I just find it too hot to go out,” he said.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s website, Penang will be bright and sunny from today until Wednesday.

However, isolated thunderstorms and rain are expected from Thurs­day until Saturday.

State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh advised the people to keep hydrated and not to stay out in the sun for long periods of time.

“If they need to exercise, they should do it in shady areas. They should also ensure that water is within reach at all times,” he added.

Meanwhile in Taiping, youngsters appear to be staying indoors.

A fast food outlet in Lake Gardens was packed because of the stifling hot weather outside.

At least five tables in the two-storey outlet were occupied by youths with piles of books on their tables.

An 18-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Lee, said he and his two classmates decided to come to the air-conditioned outlet to revise for an exam.

“It is too hot outside. An important examination is coming up and many of us are preparing for it.

“I usually do my revision at home, but it has been too hot these last few days.

“Since it is the weekend, I asked my classmates to join in a group revision at the restaurant so we could enjoy the cold drinks as well,” said Lee, a student at Hua Lian High School.

According to weather.com, noon temperatures in Taiping today will hit a high of 34°C with humidity of over 52% the entire day.

One of Lee’s classmates said: “There has been little rain lately and it feels equally warm at night.

“It is uncomfortable to study in this kind of weather, so I usually try to find an indoor place, preferably with air-conditioning.”