PETALING JAYA: April might be the hottest month of the year, particularly in the northern states, inland Pahang and Sarawak, according to Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip.
He said that by the beginning of February, warmer and drier weather is expected, with the potential for a heatwave as the northeast monsoon enters its final phase.
“However, the hot weather is predicted to be less severe compared to 2024 due to the ongoing La Nina, which is expected to continue until spring in the northern hemisphere,” he told The Star yesterday.
Spring in the northern hemisphere typically spans from March to May, as noted by the British meteorological office.
Mohd Hisham added that, based on the department’s observation records, hotter and drier weather usually occurs in northern states such as Perlis, Kedah and northern Perak.
Last Saturday, National Antarctica Research Centre climatologist Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said a heatwave is expected from February, although it will not be as intense as last year due to the La Nina phenomenon.
Azizan said Peninsular Malaysia would start experiencing warmer temperatures from February as the northeast monsoon comes to an end.
He cited Kedah and Kelantan as the northwest and northeast parts of the peninsula that are prone to heatwaves and usually experience droughts during this period.
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.
The public is advised to follow MetMalaysia for the latest weather information, which can be accessed through its website (www.met.gov.my), myCuaca application, official social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and Telegram) or by contacting the hotline 1-800-22-1638 for weather advisories.
