Perlis and Kota Setar now on Level 2 heatwave alert
PETALING JAYA: Perlis and Kota Setar in Kedah have joined a growing list of localities under a Level 2 heatwave alert as rising temperatures continue to grip northern states.
This raises the total number of areas to five including Baling, Pendang and Pokok Sena in Kedah, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
The Level 2 alert is issued when temperatures range between 37°C and 40°C for at least three consecutive days.
As at 4pm yesterday, 21 localities nationwide were issued a heatwave alert.
In Kedah, Level 1 alerts were issued for Sik, Padang Terap, Kubang Pasu, Pulau Langkawi, Kuala Muda, Kulim and Bandar Baharu.
Level 1 alerts are issued when temperatures range between 35°C and 37°C for at least three consecutive days.
In Penang, Level 1 alerts were again issued for Daerah Utara and Timur Laut with the same recorded for Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Perak Tengah and Hulu Perak in Perak, as well as Jerantut in Pahang and Segamat in Johor.
The alert was rescinded for Pasir Mas in Kelantan.
On a related matter, depleting water levels have been recorded at 30 dams across the peninsula with the bulk being in the northern states.
All dams in Perlis (one), Kedah (six), Penang (three) and Perak (three) saw a drop in water levels with the same also recorded for six dams in Selangor, two dams in Melaka and nine dams in Johor, according to figures from the National Water Services Commission dashboard.
The Muda dam in Kedah remains the hardest hit being only at 7.47% capacity yesterday, a drop from the 7.6% capacity recorded a day prior.
Water levels at the Timah Tasoh dam in Perlis and the Bukit Merah dam in Perak have reached warning levels, being at 37.31% and 37.74% capacity, respectively.
In Kedah, water levels at the Ahning (54.45%), Beris (58.14%) and BS Padang Saga (55.9%) dams remain at caution levels.
Four dams in Johor also remain at caution levels. They are Labong (59.13%), Gunung Pulai 2 (45.9%), Upper Layang (43.18%) and Lebam (56.28%).
Meanwhile, Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) chairman Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh said the Muda dam plays a crucial role in collecting water before channelling it to the Pedu Dam for irrigation across the Muda agricultural area.
“The issue is that after several months of drought, the water level at the Muda dam is at about 8%, which is extremely low.
“Combined levels at the Muda, Pedu and Ahning dams stand at about 39%. At this level, any water release should be prioritised for domestic use at water treatment plants.
“This is serious as it directly affects supply, particularly for padi irrigation,” he explained on TikTok, Bernama reported.
He said Mada will meet to decide on the upcoming 1/2026 planting season, noting that current reservoir levels may not permit water releases and that dry direct seeding is likely to be adopted.“We have engaged farmers to brief them on the situation. The planting season is expected to begin within three weeks and we are hoping for rainfall.
“Otherwise, we will have no choice but to proceed with this method, as the schedule cannot be delayed further,” he said.
