PETALING JAYA: While it is still pouring in much of the country, northern states in the peninsula have to start bracing for some hotter temperatures soon.
A heatwave is expected from February, although it will not be as intense as last year, say experts.
“This is because of the La Nina phenomenon this year,” said National Antarctica Research Centre climatologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah.
La Nina is a climate pattern that causes the cooling of ocean surface temperatures along the tropical west coast of South America, according to MetMalaysia.
There will be more active cloud formation with La Nina, which will lead to less solar radiation and less chance of high surface temperature.
Azizan said Peninsular Malaysia would start experiencing warmer temperatures from February as the northeast monsoon comes to an end.
“The states that will usually feel the dry spell are Kedah and Kelantan, as the northwest and northeast parts of the peninsula are prone to heatwaves,” he said.
Things will be different in Sabah and Sarawak, and Johor, however.
“The rainy season there will last until February as the monsoon trough moves towards the south.”
Last year, according to Azizan, was an El Nino year, which caused less rainfall in the whole region, raising temperatures.
Some schools had to suspend all activities outside the classroom in March, as temperatures exceeded 35°C.
Academy of Sciences Malaysia fellow Prof Dr Fredolin Tangang said that in the coming months, the influence of La Nina would bring more moisture to the region, fuelling heavy rain.
MetMalaysia said the northeast monsoon, which began on Nov 5, is expected to continue until March.
It said northern areas of the peninsula are expected to receive low rainfall, which would lead to hot and dry weather with possible heatwaves.
In January and February, heavy rain is predicted for Pahang, Johor, Sarawak and Sabah, it said.
