Rains come, but it will stay warm in the north

GEORGE TOWN: There may be sporadic downpours, but the northern region is expected to stay warm as it is still influenced by the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Meteorological expert Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said the northern region would still feel the heat even though the temperature from May onwards, especially in the Klang Valley, would be cooler due to the higher coverage of clouds and rain during the inter-monsoon.

“Places like the Klang Valley will have the maximum rainfall, especially in April and May.

“In the northern area, however, the weather is hotter. This is when your tecoma flowers bloom and the Harumanis mango season begins, which require heat,” he said.

Prof Azizan said while there would be sporadic rainfall, it would not be much.

“El Nino is forecast to end and move on to La Nina by the end of this year.

“For this year, we need to be wary of the La Nina weather pattern, which is likely to occur in December,” he said.

Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said strong winds occurred several days ago, which caused trees and branches to fall, as reported at a few places in Penang Hill.

“It is normal to see fallen trees, as the wind speed can be strong at times.

“This is a natural phenomenon. We have witnessed such incidents a few times each year, particularly during the inter-monsoon season,” he said.

On the weather condition at the upper station, a mini weather station up there provided a good indication of the situation, he said.

“The temperature remains about the same.

“But if it rains in the evenings, it can go down to about 20°C or slightly lower.

“When the wind speed exceeds 30kph, it is considered ‘strong’ and it’s usual to see some branches or trees fall.

“Our staff will be cautious and on the lookout, as safety in public areas is our main focus,” he said.

Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer K. Pathmanathan said the effective water capacity had increased to 40.6% at the Air Itam dam (which can last for 40 days), 53.7% at Teluk Bahang dam (163 days), and 90% at Mengkuang dam (130 days).

With the south-west monsoon on its way, dry winds are expected to blow from the general direction of Sumatra in Indonesia, with the possibility of haze caused by plantations there practising the slash-and-burn agricultural practices.

On Wednesday, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the onset of the south-west monsoon from the middle of this month to September was expected to reduce the occurrence of thunderstorms and heavy rains, with most states expected to experience dryer days.

Four areas in Kelantan are at Stage Two of the heatwave, in which the daily maximum temperature is between 37°C and 40°C for at least three consecutive days.

So far, two deaths have been reported due to heatstroke – a 22-year-old man in Pahang in February and a three-year-old child in Kelantan last month.