'Don't worry, no snow tomorrow'

2009/11/19

By Veena Babulal

KUALA LUMPUR: The Meteorological Department has described rumours of a snow blizzard hitting Malaysia tomorrow as untrue. "There is no such thing as snow blizzards in Malaysia," said its director-general, Dr Yap Kok Seng, adding that it's impossible for snow blizzards to occur in tropical countries.

"Snow blizzards only occur in mid-latitude countries such as Canada, China or northern Europe," he said when asked to comment on emails circulating on the Internet of a snow blizzard that would hit Kuala Lumpur at 7pm tomorrow.

Yap said the department had been flooded with phone calls and emails from the public over the past few weeks.

"Even if one were to subscribe to global warming theories, to say that KL will be hit by a snow blizzard is grossly inaccurate. It is impossible."

Yap said the public must reject theories not supported by scientific proof.

The department has released a statement that the blizzard "is a hoax" and urged the public to call its central forecast office at 03-79678116 for enquiries or visit its website at http://www.met.gov.my.

It is believed that the emails might have been inspired from a recent snowstorm in China.

Yap said the public must not take heed of such rumours as KL had never experienced "freezing cold temperature."

But the department said tomorrow's weather was expected to be cloudy with thunderstorms expected in the afternoon and temperature ranging between 24oC and 32oC.

In the Klang Valley, rains and occasional thunderstorms are expected to persist until Nov 24.