Brace Yourself: The Southwest Monsoon is Rolling In Next Week!

By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR: The Southwest Monsoon is expected to start on May 15 and continue until this September, causing lower rainfall to occur in most places during that period.

Director General of the Department of Meteorology (METMalaysia), Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said throughout the Southwest Monsoon, the wind usually blows consistently from the southwest with lower air humidity and more stable atmospheric conditions.

“This causes the lack of rain cloud formation throughout this period.

“Most places across the country will experience more days without rain and this will result in lower rainfall.

“However, heavy rain with strong winds and lightning due to the squall line phenomenon can still occur on the west coast of the Peninsula and west of Sabah, especially early in the morning,” he said in a statement today.

A squall line is a line of thunderstorms that form as a result of gathering winds and can last up to several hours.

Meanwhile, he said, during the Southwest Monsoon, haze can also occur if open burning is not controlled, especially between July and September.

He said open burning should be avoided to reduce the effects of haze and environmental pollution while the public is advised to use water sparingly throughout this period.