GIVE ACCURATE INFO ON WEATHER

THE severe thunderstorms that broke out in the past few days were extraordinary events since they occurred during what is normally regarded as the dry season.

Normally, the dry season will last until September when the change in the monsoon season results in severe thunderstorms due to the unstable wind patterns over the peninsula.

This extraordinary weather phenomenon also happens in other parts of the world and is generally attributed to climate change.

Japan experienced extraordinary rainfall recently that resulted in landslides and flash floods that killed dozens of people.

Western Europe has experienced more frequent thunderstorms as the average summer temperature climbed higher than normal.

A few days ago, a local TV news channel reported a severe thunderstorm in London where the rate of lightning occurrence was as severe as in Kuala Lumpur.

Hence, it was baffling when the director of the National Weather and Geophysics Operation Centre, Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), appeared on television on Thursday afternoon and said the thunderstorms were the result of the change in monsoon season.

Was he trying to avoid saying that climate change and global warming had arrived in the country?

MMD should ensure that the weather forecasts and reports it provides to the public are accurate and realistic.

They should not hide any significant weather phenomenon from the public since such phenomenon will be reported by meteorologists and scientists in neighbouring countries.

When a cyclone called Typhoon Vamei made landfall in Johor nearly 20 years ago and killed several people before it exited the peninsula, MMD could see the typhoon’s spiral formation on its weather radar.

However, it did not inform the news media that a cyclone had struck the state.

In fact, the then science, technology and environment ministry kept the incident secret until meteorologists in neighbouring countries discussed the very rare typhoon in online scientific forums. When a similar but weaker cyclone struck Penang in November, MMD could see that the cyclone hovered over the island for several hours, but again did not report the phenomenon as it was to the media.

The then chief minister had to appeal for help from the Federal Government.

Let’s hope that under the new government there will be a mindset change on the part of our scientists to truthfully report weather phenomena.

Such timely and accurate information can save lives.