KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak could remain hazy for at least another week as fires continue to burn in Kalimantan and southwesterly winds carry smoke across the border.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) deputy director-general of operations Ambun Dindang said rainfall in the country would only provide temporary relief unless there was widespread rain in the affected areas.
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He said the haze was mainly driven by the ongoing fires and prevailing wind direction.
“We know that the country is currently experiencing the Southwest Monsoon, which is characterised by hot and dry weather with less rainfall.
“This is expected to continue throughout September,” he said when contacted by Astro Awani on Tuesday (Sept 1).
Ambun said the possibility of a Super El Nino developing in October was another factor that needed to be monitored.
He said El Nino began in June and was expected to strengthen from October to December, potentially reaching a very strong level.
He said 1,738 hotspots were detected in southern and western Borneo on Aug 28.
Although the number later dropped to 261 in West Kalimantan, smoke continued to be carried by southwesterly winds towards western and southern Sarawak.
“Widespread rain is needed, particularly in western and southern Kalimantan, to put out the fires at their source and reduce the amount of smoke reaching Sarawak,” he said.
Ambun said the southwesterly winds were expected to remain consistent throughout September.
On the cloud-seeding operation scheduled from Sept 3 to 5, he said the focus would be on Sarawak and northern Peninsular Malaysia.
“We are trying to increase water levels through cloud seeding using the wet seeding method during that period,” he said.
