New Straits Times 24 Jan 14;
DRASTIC WEATHER CHANGE: Condition caused by dry winds from China
THE country is experiencing record low temperatures in several areas, with meteorological experts forecasting colder days ahead. Kuala Krai in Kelantan broke the record yesterday with its temperature dropping significantly from the 32oC recorded on Jan 7, to 17.2oC on Wednesday. It was 17.5oC yesterday.
Several countries in the region are also getting increasingly colder, with northern Vietnam snowing last month and Thailand's capital, Bangkok, hitting 15oC. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) is expecting this drastic weather change, attributed to cold dry winds from China which is currently experiencing winter, to gradually pass on sometime next month.
Its central forecast division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, poured cold water on speculations that it could snow in Malaysia, a nation that sits on the equator.
"The months of January and February will usually record the lowest temperatures in the country every year because of the cold and dry air from the Northeast monsoon.
"However, over the last few days the temperatures recorded were below the average minimum temperature we had recorded in the past," he told the New Straits Times yesterday, adding that the huge drop in temperature was especially significant in some areas of the east coast and the north.
The department has also attributed the dip in temperature to the cloudless nights in recent days, which, otherwise, would serve to trap heat on the ground.
In Perlis, MMD's weather station in Chuping recorded the temperature in the district at 32oC on Wednesday. It recorded a 10oC drop yesterday.
The state, known as the hottest spot in the country where temperature can soar to 40oC, is expected to get colder in the next few days.
Earlier this month, the state recorded a temperature of 19.8oC. However, its record of 17.8oC was on Feb 26, 1994.
Drastic plunges in temperature within several hours were also recorded in Alor Star, Kedah and Besut in Terengganu.
Just on Wednesday, the temperature in Alor Star was 32oC. Yesterday, it dipped to 22oC.
Besut's temperature two days ago was 22oC. It was 30oC on Jan 7.
The department has cautioned those staying in areas, which are experiencing sudden dips in temperatures, to take precautionary measures to keep their health in check.
From observation, those staying in the affected areas were mostly wrapped in thicker clothing.
In Kuala Krai, locals wore socks at home and extra layers of clothing to stave off the cold.
Their blankets were also stored away as they had to rely on duvets to keep themselves warm at night.
Villager Rosmanita Zainal Abidin, 42, from Kampung Sungai Dala in Jalan Tualang here, said she had been boiling large pots of water every morning to bathe her children.
"Water from the tap has become too cold for bathing.
"Even during mid-day, water from the pipes feels like it is coming from the fridge."
Mohamed Mustapha Baharum, 62, said he had stopped his regular morning walk as it was too cold.
"Now, I prefer to snuggle under the blanket as it is too cold outside, not only in the morning but also in the late afternoon and night."
In Arau, food stall operators Mohd Suhail Safini, 18, and Sharul Azuan Kamarol, 28, said as the state experienced low temperatures especially at night, it would be too chilly to wear just a T-shirt.
The hawkers, who were wearing jackets while attending to customers, were not complaining as their income had spiked in recent days.
"People tend to get hungry faster and eat more during cold weather."
Meanwhile, Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man, when contacted yesterday, said the change in weather would not effect the state's signature export -- the Harumanis mangoes.
"The change in weather has not affected the Harumanis industry.
"We are lucky that this is happening after the flowering period and that there is no heavy and consistent rain, as that would have affected it.
"Right now, 90 per cent of the mangoes are ready for harvest and this should augur well for the impending Harumanis Festival, which is a tourist attraction," he said, adding that Perlis would be able to sustain its 10-tonne export of the fruit to Japan and Singapore.
Across the South China Sea in Kota Kinabalu, a temperature of 22.1oC was recorded yesterday.
The temperature here is expected to be between 20oC and 27oC until next week.
Keningau had recorded 17oC, even lower than Kundasang's highland temperature of 20oC.
It has been 19oC for Ranau since last week.
"The highlands will be colder and it is not impossible for Mount Kinabalu to reach 15oC," said state MMD director Abdul Malik Tussin.
The department also said the video of snow falling in Indonesia was fake.
"Snow only happens in places with moderate climate and regions with four seasons."
Cities, districts experiencing cold weather conditions
T. Avineshwaran The Star 23 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: Many cities and districts in Malaysia are experiencing cold weather thanks to the cold winds from the Northeast monsoon.
Cities and towns like Subang Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kota Bharu, Kuantan and Petaling Jaya are experiencing conditions below 25 °C similar to that of Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.
The minimum temperatures were recorded since New Year’s Day and it is expected to continue for the next few weeks.
MMD reported on Thursday that from Jan 1-22, the lowest recorded temperature for Kuantan was 21.0°C, Kota Kinabalu 22.1°C, Petaling Jaya 23.6 °C, Kota Bharu 23°C, Kuching 22.0°C while Northern districts like Alor Setar, Kedah and Chuping, Perlis recorded 22.4°C and 23.3 °C respectively.
“Based on our information, among all the months, January will always record the lowest temperature every year,”
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), the dip in temperature is due to the cold winds from Northeast monsoon and this is not the first time such a phenomenon has occurred.
“The temperature fluctuates from time-to-time and during the Northeast monsoon, such minimum recordings is usual and has happened many times during the season,”
“Cold temperatures are usually recorded in East Coast and Northern region of peninsular Malaysia because of the Northeast monsoon wind which is pretty strong.
“The wind comes from Mainland China, which is experiencing snow right now.
“Also, good weather and non-cloudy conditions in Malaysia this week helped reduce the temperatures in the early morning and night.
“Atmosphere without clouds is similar to a situation where there is no blanket to keep us warm. The blanket is the cloud and our body is earth,” said MMD.
MMD also dispelled rumours that it snowed in Indonesia as they said it’s impossible for a tropical country to experience such a phenomenon.
Cooler days ahead in Malaysia
T. Avineshwaran, P. Aruna, and Julia Khaw The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: It’s going to be a chilly Chinese New Year with the cold north-easterly wind forecast to continue for the next few weeks.
Many parts of the east coast and northern and central regions are experiencing cold weather because of the wind, according to the Meteorological Department.
It said that cities and towns like Subang Jaya, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Kota Baru, Kuantan and Petaling Jaya are experiencing temperatures of below 25°C similar to conditions in Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands.
Yesterday, Kuala Krai recorded a temperature of 17.2°C – the lowest for a lowland area.
From Jan 1 to 2, the lowest recorded temperatures were 21°C for Kuantan, 22.1°C for Kota Kinabalu, 23.6°C for Petaling Jaya, 23°C for Kota Baru and 22°C for Kuching. Alor Setar and Chuping in Perlis experienced temperatures of 22.4°C and 23.3 °C, respectively.
Meteorological Department deputy director Alui Bahari dismissed speculation that the drop in temperatures was due to the lack of activity in the sun, or what is called the “sleeping sun” phenomenon.
“Based on our records, January is always the coldest month,” he said.
According to Alui, the dip in temperatures is due to the cold north-easterly winds, and this is not the first time that such a drop has occurred.
He added: “Temperatures fluctuate from time to time. Such low recordings are usual and have happened many times during the season.
“The north-easterly wind which is pretty strong comes from mainland China, which is experiencing cold weather right now.
“Also, good weather and non-cloudy conditions in Malaysia this week helped reduce the temperatures in the early morning and night.
“Atmosphere without clouds is similar to a situation where there is no blanket to keep us warm. The blanket is the cloud and our body is earth.”
'Sleeping sun' phenomenon partly cause of chilly weather
The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: The weather usually gets colder at this time of the year but temperatures seem to be dropping lower than usual.
Faizal Parish, an expert in biodiversity and the climate, said the sudden change is related to the extreme weather conditions in other parts of the region, as well as in Europe and the United States.
Scientists are saying that the causes are global climate change and a reported drop in activity on the surface of the sun, called the “sleeping sun” phenomenon.
“The scientists are seeing lower sunspot activity now compared to the past 10 years,” explained Faizal, who is director of the Global Environment Centre here.
“There is now less radiation from the sun reaching us but that alone does not cause a drastic drop in temperature.
“It is the cold mass of air coming from Russia and China that is lowering temperatures.”
He said that while this cold air would usually remain in China, it is now coming further south due to a change in the high-altitude wind flows.
Scientists in Europe have warned that the lack of sunspot activity could lead to a new mini ice-age there, similar to one that happened in the 17th century.
Named the Maunder Minimum, it was a period of drastically reduced sunspot activity that occurred between 1645 and 1715. It also caused London’s River Thames to freeze over.
Faizal also explained that the switch in wind patterns was due to global climate change.
“The impact of climate change is not just global warming. It can lead to extreme weather, such as heatwaves, cold snaps or droughts,” he said.
“Melting sea ice in the Arctic and changing weather patterns are both possible drivers of the new winter weather trends.”
He pointed out that there have been dramatic weather changes in other countries in the region, such as in northern Vietnam where it snowed for the first time in many years, and parts of Thailand were declared disaster zones after the mercury dipped below 5°C last month.
Solar activity is expected to return to normal in the future.
Farmers feel the pressure of cold spell
The Star 24 Jan 14;
PETALING JAYA: If you noticed that the weather is slightly cooler these few days, you are not alone.
The Meteorological Department said it is normal for it to be cooler this time of the year, but many remember that it was warmer around this period in 2013 and before that.
Farmers in Cameron Highlands have been complaining of extra low temperatures that are extending the maturity period of their crops.
Chai Kok Leong, 45, the owner of a vegetable farming business in Brinchang, watched in frustration as his crops took longer to grow.
“For example, when the minimum temperature was 18°C, we harvested cabbages in three months.
“Now that the temperature has declined to 12°C, we are forced to wait an extra half a month before we can sell them,” he said.
Another farmer, Tan Ching Long, said he waited patiently for his Cameron apples to grow, but saw many of them wither.
“The apples that survived were not as big as before,” he said.
Not all vegetable farmers were alarmed.
Lim Hock Ling, 43, believed that the phenomenon will only affect fruits and vegetables temporarily.
On a scale of 10, two would describe the extent to which his vegetables were affected, said Lim.
