STORY TO BE TOLD

Weather across peninsula is erratic and cold

KUALA LUMPUR: A blast of cold air is blowing across the Klang Valley and most of the peninsula states, bringing with it much lower temperatures.

Unlike previous years when temperatures took a dip during the monsoon season and tailed off towards the end of December, the cold season seems to be extending into the new year.

Many readers of The Star have called up to ask for the scientific reason for the cool climate experienced by residents across the Klang Valley.

Cool times: That’s right, it really is 26°C in the afternoon as this clock tower along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, displays.

Some readers from Klang said that the temperature on some days this year was 27°C and that some parts in the port town were covered in mist in the morning.

Generally temperatures in the lowlands of Malaysia range between 29°C - 35°C during the day and 26°C - 29°C at night, depending on the amount of rainfall and sunlight.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the weather pattern was a bit erratic and the cool weather was expected to continue into the Chinese New Year.

Department spokesman Ramlan Abdul Rahman said Malaysia was still not out of the Northeast monsoon season, which started in November and lasted till March, that brought heavy rainfall to the east side of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“As this monsoon wind is particularly strong, it often brings heavy rain to the west side of Peninsular Malaysia as well during this period,” he said.

The department has also registered greater cloud activity during the period and forecasts the erratic cloud patterns to last longer.

It said the erratic cloud pattern and rain were the two major contributing factors for the cool weather.

And for many the Year of the Rabbit will not have a ferocious start like in previous years when hot weather reigned throughout the Chinese New Year.

Rather it will be gentle with warm breeze, intermittent rain and occasional thunderstorms.

According to the Meteorological Depart­ment, Klang Valley was expected to experience thunderstorms in the afternoon on the first day of Chinese New Year while the skies up north were expected to be clear.

So for a change sit back and enjoy the cool weather while it lasts.

Weather to remain bad until Saturday
Reports by STEPHEN THEN, MUGUNTAN VANAR, WINNIE YEOH and SHARIN SHAIK

PETALING JAYA: Heavy rain and strong winds are expected to continue over various parts of the country until Saturday.

The Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert yesterday that there would be intermittent rain across Kelantan as well as Tereng­ganu until tomorrow.

This might result in floods in low-lying areas and along river banks, the department said in a statement.

Strong north-easterly winds of 50 to 60 kph, with waves of up to 4.5m off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Tioman were expected.

The strong winds will be dangerous to all shipping and coastal activities including fishing and ferry services.

Meanwhile, over the waters of east Johor, Labuan, Sarawak and Sabah, there will be strong north-easterly winds of 40 to 50kph, which will cause waves of up to 3.5m.

This situation will continue until Saturday.

There was heavy rainfall in East Malaysia in the last two days as rainfall in Sabah reached up to 38mm in Sandakan on Monday while in Miri, Sarawak, the rainfall for Tuesday was 58mm.

Residents were advised not to engage in recreational sea activities and it would be a hazard for small boats as well.

In Condore, Reef North and Layang Layang Island, strong north-easterly winds over 60kph with waves over 5.5m are expected to continue until Sunday.

According to the report, it will be dangerous to all shipping and coastal activities, including workers on oil rig platforms.

Meanwhile, users of Kltrafficupdate on Twitter complained about heavy traffic build-up in the Klang Valley due to flash floods yesterday.

The affected areas were at Bukit Jalil, the LDP, Jalan Duta and Jalan Semantan.

The public is advised to follow updates on the weather over the department’s website, www.met.gov.my

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