Northeast monsoon from Nov 11 until March next year

Four to six episodes of heavy rain are predicted during the northeast monsoon season which is expected from Nov 11 until March 2024.

Malaysian Meteorological Department director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the episodes of heavy rain are expected to occur in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and western Sarawak during the early phase of the northeast monsoon from November to January 2024.

"However, if the monsoon rain is strong and at the same time there is a low-pressure weather system, continuous heavy rains can occur in other states in Malaysia.

"Continuous heavy rain for several days may result in flooding in the low-lying and flood-risk areas," he said in a statement today.

He said if continuous heavy rain occurs simultaneously with high tides and storm surges, the risk of flooding could be more extreme.

"Apart from that, continuous and strong northeasterly winds can cause rough seas, the risk of rising sea levels and large waves in the waters of the South China Sea," he said.

Helmi said based on MetMalaysia forecast, north of the peninsula (Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu), Sabah, Labuan and northern Sarawak are expected to experience less rain in the final phase of the northeast monsoon, which is from February to March 2024.

"The hot and dry weather that is expected to start in March 2024 has the potential to cause a heat wave. This situation follows the El Nino which is expected to continue until the middle of 2024 and the positive Indian Ocean Dipole is expected until the first quarter of 2024," he added.

As such, he advised the public to prepare for the monsoon season and be vigilant to the information, advice, forecast and warnings issued by MetMalaysia.

The public can get more information through the website, myCuaca mobile application and official social media as well as the hotline at 1-300-22-1638, he said.

- Bernama