KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 – El Nino that has prevailed since October last year and the dry weather associated with it could contribute to incidents of haze in the country, according to the Meteorological Department. The department’s deputy director-general (Weather and Climate), Alui Bahari said haze would occur when particulate matter from industry activities and motorised vehicles fill the air, minimising visibility.
Nevertheless, he said local haze will not be severe and is only temporary. On the current exceptionally hot spell, he explained that the country was seeing the end of the Northeast Monsoon season that would last till early April. During the period, certain areas experience dry weather and lack of rain coupled with El Nino which see the temperature rising by 0.5 to 2.0 degrees celsius, he said. Weather forecasts and related information can be obtained through the department’s website at http://www.met.gov.my/.
