KUALA TERENGGANU: Allaying fears of rough seas and thunderstorms, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has denied such phenomenon is to strike the shores of peninsular Malaysia.
The ministry’s Malaysian Meteorology Department (MetMalaysia) only expects slightly rough seas of 1.5m high and intermittent rains in the afternoons throughout the east coast of the peninsular and other parts of it.
It also put to rest speculation of impending floods in the east coast states of Terengganu and Kelantan as the year-end monsoon looms.
A MetMalaysia spokesman said that the El Nino warming of sea surface temperatures over the Pacific was, however, expected to increase from moderate to high from next month (September), according to the Malaysian Meteorology Department.
MetMalaysia’s National Climatic Centre predicts the situation to prolong throughout next year with increased readings exceeding 90 per cent.
The Oceanic Nino Index, she said, for May-June-July showed a one-degree Celsius increase and a two-degree Celsius rise for August this year.“
This can have a spill-over effect towards the western Pacific and lead to slightly rough seas and storms.
“However, thus far, the region, including South East Asia is forecast to have intermittent rain in the afternoon in most parts of the country,” said said.
She added that for East Malaysia, Typhoon Goni and Atsani from the western Pacific affected Limbang and Miri in Sarawak, and Kudat and Labuan in Sabah.
“Typhoon Goni is moving northerly towards the Philippines and Taiwan, while Typhoon Atsani is heading towards southern Japan.
“Warnings have been issued to fishermen and operators of small boats,” she said.