AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 19 Mar 16;
KOTA KINABALU: The hot and dry weather is expected to last until June, said Science, Technology, and Innovation (Mosti) Minister Datuk Madius Tangau.
Advising the people to reduce their outdoor activity, Madius said the current high temperature would slowly reduce and rainfall would start to increase in May.
At the moment, Alor Setar (Kedah) and Chuping (Perlis) recorded the highest temperature reading at 39.1 and 38.9 degree celcius.
“Due to this, we advise schools in these areas to be closed down however the school closure is up to the Education Ministry.
“We have provided the Ministry with the current data for their attention,” he said at a press conference at the Sabah Meteorology Department here.
This was among the measures taken by the special committee on the extreme hot weather if the heat wave continued.
The moves were part of the new heat wave action plan involving ministries and agencies including Mosti, Education Ministry, Health Ministry, Communication and Multimedia Ministry and the Meteorology Department, On Friday, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junai Tuanku Jaafar had said the National Disaster Management Agency would declare a heat wave emergency if temperatures went beyond 40 degree Celcius.
According to Mosti, temperature readings in Keningau, Sabah and Batu Embun as well as Temerloh in Pahang have exceeded 35 degree Celsius for more than 10 days.
Double whammy tomorrow – equinox and heatwave
The Star 19 Mar 16;
PETALING JAYA: Be prepared for a double whammy tomorrow and steaming hot afternoons for the rest of the month.
The situation will be made all the more unbearable with the equinox tomorrow, when the sun shines directly over the Equator, and the heatwave caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said the heatwave was expected to continue until the end of the month.
“We are expecting maximum temperatures to be recorded between 2pm and 4pm,” she said.
For Chuping, Perlis, which recorded the highest temperature in the country this month at 39°C on Monday and yesterday, she said it would range between 38°C and 39°C.
According to the Meteorological Department website, the temperature in Petaling Jaya at 5pm yesterday was 33°C while Alor Setar recorded 36°C; Ipoh and Seberang Perai 35°C; Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, 34°C; Senai, Johor, 34°C; and Malacca, 33°C.
On weather.com, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, is forecasted to be the hottest place in the region ranging between 38°C and 42°C.
It is the highest in comparison to Chuping which will range between 36°C and 38°C; Yangon, Myanmar, 37°C-39°C; Singapore 33°C-34°C; Manila, Philippines, 33°C-36°C; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 33°C-36°C and Pekanbaru, Indonesia, 32°C-34°C.
On Monday Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said in a statement that the El Nino phenomenon was the main reason for the current hot and dry weather being experienced in the country.
Tangau said the last time Malaysia experienced similar weather conditions was 1997-1998, also due to a strong El Nino.
