Malaysia: Expect to swelter until April

isabelle lai The Star 17 Feb 14;

PETALING JAYA: Peak daytime temperatures in the country are expected to be high until April, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD).

MMD’s national weather centre director Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said February to April were the hottest months of the year due to the equinox – which is when the sun crosses directly over the equator. The equinox happens twice a year, around March 20 and Sept 22.

“The spring equinox occurs around March 20. As we are slightly further north of the equator, the sun will be directly overhead in our region as we approach April,” Muhammad Helmi explained.

He noted that the highest maximum temperature recorded by MMD was 40.1°C at Chuping, Perlis, in April 1998.

However, Muhammad Helmi said that increased rainfall in March would help alleviate the hot and dry weather in some states in the peninsula.

He attributed the recent drop in rainfall to the northeast monsoon season (from November to March), adding that wind patterns had not been conducive to the formation of rain clouds.

The return of rain clouds is expected to help lower peak afternoon temperatures.

“We can expect to see frequent afternoon thunderstorms next month as we begin to approach the inter-monsoon period,” he said, adding that February was often the driest month as well.

Muhammad Helmi said northern states such as Perlis and Kedah have recorded less than 100mm of rain this month, where normal levels are between 100mm and 300mm per month.

Earlier this month, the Department of Environment recorded moderate to unhealthy Air Pollutant Index readings at several locations in Malaysia.

In late January, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry attributed the haze hovering over the Klang Valley to fine particles which were unable to disperse due to prolonged dry weather.

It had said these particulate matter were released from various human activities including vehicle fumes, land development, and construction activities.