Hot and hazy days expected from June to September, says MetMalaysia

A file picture of haze obscuring the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

KUALA LUMPUR: Temperature are expected to rise and haze could descend on the country from July to September this year.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the influence of external factors like tropical storms in neighbouring countries like the Philippines can cause dry conditions in the peninsula.

"In Indonesia, the possibility of forest fires occurring is high because of the dry weather, with wind blowing in from the southwest (bringing smoke) to our country in the form of haze," he said when interviewed on BernamaTV talk show 'Malaysia Petang Ini' Thursday (May 11).

MetMalaysia issued a statement regarding the southwest monsoon which is expected to begin this Saturday (May 14) and continue until mid-September.

Muhammad Helmi said the situation would result in a reduction in the formation of rain clouds and cause most places across the country to experience more days without rain than other seasons, as well as produce low rainfall distribution.

However, heavy rain with strong winds and lightning due to the squall line phenomenon can still occur on the west coast of the peninsula and western Sabah. – Bernama