INTERACTIVE: Malaysia’s temperatures hit new highs the past decade

By SHYAFIQ DZULKIFLI

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s temperatures have been soaring to new highs over the past decade.

According to figures from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), seven of the 10 warmest years over the past four decades were recorded since 2015.

MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said 2016 was the hottest year the department observed, with the county’s average annual temperature at 27.84°C.

“For 2024, the country’s average temperature was 27.55°C… This value is the fourth highest over our 43-year observation period (1981-2024),” Mohd Hisham told The Star.

He said that Chuping, Perlis, had the highest temperature recorded last year (2024) with the mercury rising to 39.0°C on March 23.

The same location recorded 52 consecutive days without rain in 2024, making it the site with the longest dry stretch last year.

Mohd Hisham said that the country experienced 45 days under a Level 2 high temperature advisory last year, the highest for any year over 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.

On the outlook for this year, Mohd Hisham said Malaysia is currently experiencing the Southwest Monsoon, which began in May and is expected to last until September.

This season typically brings lower atmospheric moisture, resulting in fewer rainclouds and a higher number of dry days across much of the country.

“The dry conditions heighten the risk of haze, especially if open burning is not strictly controlled.

“While overall rainfall is reduced during this season, thunderstorms, strong winds, and flash floods remain possible, particularly in western Peninsular Malaysia, northern Sarawak, and western Sabah, typically occurring late at night or early in the morning,” said Dr Mohd Hisham.

He added the global El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which heavily influences regional climate, is currently in a neutral phase and that most international climate models do not anticipate an extreme dry weather event in the months ahead.

“This neutral ENSO condition is expected to persist throughout the year.

“Current projections suggest that Malaysia will likely transition into the inter-monsoon phase between late September and early November, followed by a normal Northeast Monsoon towards the year-end,” he said.

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.


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