Heat and haze expected from July to September

A rise in temperature along with the haze phenomenon is expected to hit the country from July to September this year.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the influence of external factors like tropical storms in neighbouring countries such as the Philippines could cause dry condition in the peninsula.

“In Indonesia, the possibility of forest fires occurring is high because of the dry weather with the wind blowing from the southwest (bringing with it smoke) to our country in the form of haze,” he said in a talk show interview with Bernama yesterday.

MetMalaysia recently issued a statement regarding the southwest monsoon which is expected to begin this Saturday and continue until mid-September.

Helmi said the situation would result in a reduction in the formation of rain clouds and cause most places across the country to experience more days without rain than other seasons, as well as low rainfall distribution.

However, heavy rain with strong winds and lightning due to the squall line phenomenon might still occur on the west coast of the peninsula and western Sabah.