INTERACTIVE: No extreme dry conditions expected despite hot 2024

The Star

23-05-2025

Malaysian Meteorological Department assistant officer Norashikin Anuar monitoring weather conditions through satelite/radar images at Malaysian Meteorological Department, Petaling Jaya. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Last year turned out to be the fourth hottest year on record for Malaysia, but no extreme dry conditions are expected this year, says the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
Although Malaysia is currently experiencing more dry days than rainy days due to the South-West Monsoon, heavy rains with thunderstorms and strong winds may still occur occasionally.
'The majority of forecasts produced by the latest international weather models do not expect extreme dry weather phenomena to occur throughout this Southwest monsoon season,' said MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip.
Mohd Hisham said current ENSO (El Nino-Southern Oscillation) conditions, which affects global weather patterns, are neutral and are expected to remain so throughout the year.
A neutral ENSO means the climate is neither in an El Nino nor a La Nina state, but is in a normal condition. El Nino is a climate pattern typically bringing hotter, drier weather to Malaysia, while La Nina usually causes wetter conditions.
'Therefore, the country is also expected to experience the inter-monsoon transition from late September to early November, along with the Northeast monsoon at the end of the year under normal conditions."
Mohd Hisham said last year was the fourth hottest year observed since 1981, when MetMalaysia began tracking the country's annual average temperature.
The average annual temperature for Malaysia in 2024 was 27.55°C.
He said the warmest year was 2016 (27.84°C), followed by 1998 (27.7°C) and 2019 (27.63°C).
He said that Chuping, Perlis, had the highest temperature recorded last year with the mercury rising to 39.0°C on March 23.
Chuping also experienced 52 consecutive days without rain in 2024, marking it as the location with the longest dry spell in 2024.
Mohd Hisham said that the country experienced 45 days under a Level 2 high temperature advisory last year, the highest for any year in the past decade.
A Level 2 (Orange) advisory means that a location is officially facing a heatwave, with temperatures going above 37°C but remaining below 40°C.
According to previous reports by The Star , MetMalaysia issued nearly 2,000 Level 1 and Level 2 high temperature alerts since 2023.
Among the locations or areas most affected by extreme temperatures, Baling in Kedah emerged as the hottest spot, receiving the highest number of alerts at 73.
This was followed by Padang Terap with 61 alerts and Pendang with 56 alerts.