DESIREE TRESA GASPER The Star 1 Jul 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: The hazy conditions experienced in some areas in the country are due to the ongoing dry spell and lack of strong winds, said the Meteorological Department.
Department National Weather Centre senior meteorologist Dr Hisham Mohd Anip said that Malaysians need not worry too much as conditions should improve by Sunday.
“This is not a full blown haze and has nothing to do with forest fires or hot spots from neighbouring countries.
“The reason why you notice that the air isn’t so clean is because we are currently experiencing a stable atmospheric condition,” he said
This essentially means that the air is dry and there are no strong winds to move pollutants in the air.
“Due to this, you have elements such as factory smoke, vehicle smoke, dust and other pollutants clogging up the air,” he said.
Dr Hisham however said that stronger winds are expected to build up by the coming weekend.
“There should be some sort of improvement in the air quality by then.
“In the meantime, it is best to stay indoors to avoid breathing in too much of the unhealthy air,” he said.
On the possibility of a full blown haze hitting the country soon, Dr Hisham said that it was highly unlikely at the moment.
“We may experience haze nearer the end of the year,” he said.
Checks by The Star on the Air Pollutant Index (API) by the Department of Environment (DOE) revealed that most areas in the country were experiencing moderate levels of air pollutants.
As of 3pm yesterday, unhealthy API readings were recorded at Cheras and Batu Muda in Kuala Lumpur. The readings were at 106 and 119 respectively.
When asked on the possibility of rain to clear the air and fill some of the dams which have recorded low water levels, Dr Hisham said that the rains were unlikely to make a significant difference this time.
“We expect some rain but not that much. The wet season will only begin in early September,” he said.
Syarikat Air Bekalan Selangor (Syabas) had previously warned that taps in the Klang Valley may run dry again due to the dry spell in July and August.
Its Corporate Communications and Public Affairs manager Priscilla Alfred said that while most dams in Selangor were above the 70% capacity, this would not guarantee that there will be no disruptions including during the Hari Raya period later this month.
The cause of the shortage was due to increased usage during the hot season and the dry spell itself.
Malaysian’s must brace for hot spell, haze
New Straits Times 1 Jul 15;
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians must brace for hotter days ahead as the country is now experiencing the south west monsoon.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said the monsoon season will bring about hot and dry weather and the dry spell is forecast to last until September.
“There will be little rain, mostly only early in the morning at the coastal areas, as well as areas south of Selangor,” she told Bernama here, today adding that weather conditions can worsen and lead to haze if there was indiscriminate open burning.
A random observation here today saw weather conditions quite hazy but Che Gayah said it could be because there was no rain over the past few days.
She further said that the condition was not due to the volcanic activities of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra although volcanic ash was moving towards the central of Peninsular Malaysia and its altitude when passing the Peninsular was above 6,000 feet.
According to the latest satellite image on ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (AMSC), there no hotspots were detected in Peninsular Malaysia but two each in Sabah and Sarawak was detected.
A check with the Department of Environment showed that all 52 areas monitored nationwide for air quality today showed good to moderate Air Pollutant Index.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Philip said the current hot spell can cause dehydration if they sweat and do not drink enough water.
He said this can occur even if they stayed in the shade, but the condition will be severe when people are exposed to direct sunlight.
“As dehydration progresses, the affected person will start to feel weak, dizzy and disoriented or confused, as blood pressure starts to drop and body temperature rises.
“In order to stay cool and avoid heat related problems, drink enough water,” he told Bernama in an email reply today, adding that those who suffered from dehydration should move to a cool place and start sipping water.
“Please remember not to leave anyone unattended in a parked cars with the air-conditioner off and the windows up - temperatures can quickly rise to more than 50 degrees Celsius due to the greenhouse effect,” he said.
Dr Ashok also advised those who are fasting to drink regularly throughout the night and “top up” their fluid intake before starting the fast.
He said although such action may cause a little inconvenient, as it can lead to frequent visits to the toilet, that’s the price of staying cool and healthy. – BERNAMA
