Malaysia is expected to experience generally fair weather over the next several days, although the next episode of heavy rain under the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) could develop at any time depending on monsoon surges and the influx of moist air, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia).
Its Director-General, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said, there is no fixed interval between one heavy rain episode and the next, but advisories will be issued at least three days in advance should early indicators of severe weather emerge.
He said the intensity of the next episode would also hinge on prevailing atmospheric conditions, including the presence of low-pressure areas as well as wind and moisture patterns.
“METMalaysia uses numerical weather prediction (NWP) models to detect early changes before our experts translate them into formal forecasts,” he told the media.
Dr Mohd Hisham noted that the development comes as Malaysia continues to face various storm formations throughout the year, particularly during monsoon transitions.
Thunderstorms, he said, remain the most common weather phenomenon nationwide, typically occurring from late afternoon to early evening.
“Large-scale cumulonimbus cloud formations can trigger more extreme events, including tornadoes and hailstorms.
“We are also seeing a greater frequency of squall lines – long, organised thunderstorm systems stretching hundreds of kilometres that usually form at sea before moving inland, particularly along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, northern Sarawak and western Sabah during the early morning,” he added.
Under certain conditions, Malaysia may also face risks from tropical storms forming near its waters, as seen during Tropical Storm Senyar which affected parts of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan on Nov 28.
“However, Malaysia remains largely shielded from major cyclones as its proximity to the equator results in a weaker Coriolis force, making it difficult for tropical storms to intensify into typhoons.
“Typically, tropical systems from the western Pacific move across the Philippines into the South China Sea and dissipate near Vietnam, with direct paths toward Malaysia being rare,” he said.
Dr Mohd Hisham assured that METMalaysia will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and will issue continuous heavy rain warnings whenever signs of hazardous weather appear.
-THE MALAYSIA VOICE
