By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 3: The interior regions of Sarawak and Sabah are among the areas in the country which could be hit by daily maximum temperatures of between 39°C and 40°C if a strong El Nino develops towards the end of this year or early next year.
According to Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) director-general Hisham Anip, based on records, Malaysia’s daily maximum temperatures can exceed 38°C between March and May each year, which is usually when the country is at its hottest.
He said that in addition to the interior regions of Sarawak and Sabah, other areas in Malaysia most at risk of extreme heat are the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia and the inland areas of Kelantan and Pahang.
“With a strong El Nino forecast and the increasingly evident effects of global warming, temperatures of around 40°C could potentially occur in Malaysia between March and May 2027,” he said, as reported by Berita Harian.
He also warned that extended hot and dry weather, especially when accompanied by reduced rainfall, may lower reservoir levels and affect water supply, agriculture, industry, and hydroelectric power generation and significantly impact public health, water supply, agriculture, energy, and the environment.
At the same time, he also stressed that higher temperatures raise the risk of forest fires in peatland areas, leading to haze, which affects the air quality and public health.
Meanwhile, he called on the public to increase their water intake to prevent dehydration, minimise outdoor exposure during peak heat hours, avoid open burning, and practise efficient use of water and electricity.
El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon characterised by unusually warm ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
This warming weakens the Pacific trade winds, displacing global weather patterns and triggering widespread heatwaves, droughts, and altered precipitation. — DayakDaily
