Nine states on Level 1 heatwave alert

Mercury reaches 40°C in peninsula and may last till April

PETALING JAYA: It is getting hotter by the day with temperatures in the peninsula “boiling” between 35°C and 40°C.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has put a district in Kedah on Level 2 heatwave alert while 23 districts in seven states and one federal territory in the peninsula are on Level 1 after temperatures increased.

Pendang in Kedah is the only district placed on Level 2 alert after recording temperatures between 37°C and 40°C.

The 23 areas in the seven states are Chuping in Perlis; Kota Setar, Sik, Baling and Kulim in Kedah; Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta and Batang Padang in Perak; and Jerantut, Raub, Temerloh, Maran and Bentong in Pahang.

Also listed are Kuala Selangor, Kelang, Hulu Selangor, Sepang and Petaling in Selangor; Jelebu and Rembau in Negri Sembilan; Tangkak in Johor; and Kuala Lumpur.

The other regions, including Sabah and Sarawak, recorded temperatures below 35°C.

“The hot weather is due to the lack of cloud cover and low rainfall during the end of the north-east monsoon,” said MetMalaysia director-general Datuk Alui Bahari.

He said such extreme temperatures were usual during the end of the north-east monsoon period, adding that the heatwave was expected to subside next month with more rainfall.

He added that Malaysia was experiencing a weak El Nino (irregular weather phenomenon) but did not expect it to be as severe as the 2016 El Nino.

“The highest daily temperature recorded was 40.1°C in Chuping on April 9, 1998, during the 1997-1998 Super El Nino,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Water Services Commission reiterated its advice for people to conserve water during the hot spell.

“We have been advising the people since February to use water wisely,” it said.

On the MetMalaysia Facebook page, Malaysians were seen reminding each other to take care during the heatwave.

“Woah heatwave! Drink lots of water ya,” Fadhil Saufi said.

“The weather in Penaga is so hot even my cat is running into the bedroom to find a cool place to relax,” Putera Katak said.