Latest news with #ElNino
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Dry, hot weather to persist until September, says MetMalaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: The ongoing Southwest Monsoon since May 10 has led to dry and hot weather conditions nationwide, with a high number of rainless days expected to continue until September. Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said thunderstorms and heavy rain are still occurring from time to time, particularly in the western regions of the peninsula, northern Sarawak, and western Sabah during the mornings. He added that similar weather is also seen in the interior areas of the peninsula, Sarawak, and Sabah in the evenings and at night. "The squall line phenomenon, which brings heavy rain and strong winds to the west coast of the peninsula, northern Sarawak and western Sabah, may also occur especially in the early morning when atmospheric conditions are favourable," he said when contacted. He said during the seven-day period from June 10 to 16, most weather stations recorded temperatures below 35°C, except for Batu Gajah in Perak which recorded 36.7°C on June 15, and Limbang, which hit 36.5°C on June 13. "The temperature readings have dropped slightly at all stations following rainfall in recent days," he said. "At present, MetMalaysia has not issued any heatwave warnings due to the rainfall observed over the past few days." On sea conditions, he said a Category One strong wind and rough sea warning had been issued, with waves reaching up to 3.5m high and wind speeds of up to 50km/h in the northern Straits of Melaka and Phuket waters. The advisory remains in effect until Thursday, June 19. Commenting on the El Nino phenomenon, he said it was expected to remain in a neutral phase, with overall weather conditions likely to stay at average levels. "According to agencies monitoring the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the phenomenon is expected to remain in a neutral phase until October, and during this phase, weather conditions are forecast to remain average." "A detailed explanation of rainfall amounts in each district over the coming months is available on the department's website at he said. Mohd Hisham also advised the public to stay hydrated and limit outdoor activities during periods of extreme heat, as well as to wear appropriate clothing. "In the current hot and dry weather, drink plenty of water, avoid excessive outdoor activities, and wear suitable clothing. If outside, wear a hat or use an umbrella. "Open burning should also be avoided as it can lead to haze and environmental pollution.
Mint
7 days ago
- Climate
- Mint
In charts: Beyond heatwaves, how warmer nights are making summer unbearable
India is once again grappling with dangerous heatwave conditions, particularly across its northern, north-western and central regions, after an early monsoon briefly brought relief. Temperatures are around or above 40 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Haryana, among other places. Though India is no stranger to extreme heat, warmer nights – an insidious climate pattern – are making summers agonising. A recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), a policy think tank, found that not only is India experiencing warmer nights, but nighttime temperatures are rising faster than daytime heat, creating conditions that prevent the human body from recovering from daily heat stress. Also read | Crisis alert: Careless water management poses an existential threat to India An analysis of CEEW data, shared exclusively with Mint, shows that over a third of Indian districts analysed had five or more additional 'very warm nights' during 2012-2022 compared to historical trends during 1982-2011. Around 10% of these districts saw an additional 10 days of very warm nights during the decade to 2022. CEEW defines 'very warm nights' as periods when both minimum and maximum temperatures exceeded what was normally observed 95% of the time during 1982-2011. Moreover, 'very warm nights' outnumbered 'very hot days' in about 26 years of the 1982-2022 period, with the longest streak witnessed between 2005 and 2018. While there have been more 'very hot days' than 'very hot nights' since 2019, both their numbers are significantly higher now. Years that witnessed El Nino, a climatic phenomenon that causes less rainfall, saw a spike in the number of very hot days and very warm nights, but the impact was more pronounced for very warm nights. Also read: The world has already breached a dangerous level of warming, and India isn't prepared Region-wise, districts in eight states—Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana—experienced more than 10 additional very warm nights each summer in 2012 and 2022 relative to 1982-2011. In February 2025 the India Meteorological Department (IMD) included 'night temperature above normal' in their daily releases for the first time, Down to Earth reported. The weather agency regularly includes updates on warm night conditions in their daily releases, underlining the severity of the problem. The pattern of extreme heat during days—with little or no relief during nights—brings severe health risks. 'Warmer nights prevent the human body from cooling down after intense daytime heat. This significantly increases health risks such as heat strokes and worsens non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension," CEEW said in the report released last month. Also read: Changes in western disturbances may adversely affect food security, crop productivity Warmer nights are being observed in countries such as the UK and the US as well. According to an article published in The Conversation, warm nights have doubled in 50 years in Oxford, UK. Similarly, an analysis of 247 major US cities by Climate Central found they are currently experiencing about 27 warmer-than-normal days compared to the 1970s. These trends are in line with the risks of climate change being seen around the world, with temperatures rising each passing year and heat conditions lingering longer than before. With global temperatures expected to keep rising—after hitting a record 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) in 2024—conditions are likely to worsen.
News18
12-06-2025
- Climate
- News18
Monsoon Arrived 8 Days Early In Kerala, Why Has It Progressed So Slow Since Then?
Last Updated: By early June, the monsoon's pace slackened. Rainfall eased in most southern and northeastern parts of the country. Even flood-affected areas in the Northeast began to dry up. The southwest monsoon, a lifeline for agriculture and water needs, arrived with a bang but has since entered a puzzling pause. When it reached Kerala on May 24, eight days ahead of schedule, it sparked widespread celebration across the country. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) called it the earliest onset since 2009. Hopes soared as rain lashed southern parts of the country. But now, deep into the second week of June, the monsoon's momentum has mysteriously stalled, leaving much of the country grappling with heat and uncertainty. The monsoon's early entry wasn't just confined to Kerala. It simultaneously swept into Lakshadweep, Mahe, southern Karnataka, parts of Tamil Nadu, and Mizoram, an unusually widespread onset that delighted meteorologists and farmers alike. The last week of May saw intense rainfall in Kerala, with red alerts issued in multiple districts due to flooding and landslides. But by early June, the monsoon's pace slackened. Rainfall eased in most southern and northeastern parts of the country. Even flood-affected areas in the Northeast began to dry up. According to private forecaster Skymet, the monsoon's advancement has hit a temporary wall, particularly in northeastern states. Meteorologists attribute the sluggish progress to a mix of global atmospheric and oceanic shifts. The early burst was helped by favourable conditions like the active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), a moving pulse of cloud and rainfall over the tropics, and a neutral Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The absence of El Nino, a phenomenon that typically suppresses monsoon rains, also worked in the country's favour. But June brought a shift. The MJO lost steam, weakening the systems that propel the monsoon northward. In addition, the seasonal low-pressure area that usually drives the monsoon's inland advance remains south of its expected position, restricting rain to southern coastal regions. Despite the slowdown, the IMD has issued a new round of forecasts that may bring hope. Between June 11 and 17, heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected to return to Kerala and Lakshadweep. Wind speeds may reach 60 km/h, and isolated areas could see extreme rain from June 14 to 17. However, the monsoon remains sluggish over Maharashtra, Goa, and much of the Northeast. The early-season flooding in Kerala is giving way to heat and humidity, a pattern mirrored in several parts of the country. Will Monsoon Regain Momentum? The IMD remains optimistic about the broader monsoon season. It has projected overall rainfall at 105% of the long-period average, an encouraging sign for agriculture and the economy. Yet, weather experts caution that early onset does not guarantee a successful or well-distributed monsoon. In 2009, the monsoon had also arrived early, on May 23, but June that year saw a severe 48% rainfall deficit, and August followed with a 27% shortfall. The memory of that anomaly is prompting meteorologists to urge caution amid early excitement. First Published: June 12, 2025, 14:25 IST
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Straits Times
Colorado State continues to forecast four major hurricanes in 2025
Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at Colorado State University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (CSU/CIRA & NOAA)/Handout via REUTERS HOUSTON - Colorado State University meteorologists on Wednesday left unchanged their closely-watched forecast for an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1, from their release in April. The outlook continues to expect four major hurricanes, with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour (178.6 km/h), among a total of nine hurricanes out of 17 named tropical storms before the season ends on November 30. In May, U.S. government forecasters issued a forecast for a similar number of storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes for this year. Colorado State forecasters warned that the outlook could change because of uncertainty over the development of El Nino wind shear conditions between August and October at the height of the hurricane activity. "While the odds of El Nino this hurricane season are low, they are still considerably higher than they were for last year's hurricane season," the forecast said. An El Nino is formed by cooler areas in the Pacific Ocean, and sends high winds across the southern United States, which can rip hurricanes apart. The above-average prediction is based on higher than average sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean, according to the forecast. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
7NEWS
11-06-2025
- Climate
- 7NEWS
Jane's Weather: Drought stricken farmers finally receive rain over the long weekend
A quarter of Victoria recorded more than 50mm of rain over the long weekend and the majority of southeastern Australia saw more than 25mm. Many places picked up more rain over the three day weekend than they did in the first two months of the year. A few spots located well inland did only receive 5mm to 10mm, but the vast majority saw good rainfalls, incredibly useful after such a long period of well below average rain, transforming paddocks and dams. The big question is - is there any more rain to come? A big, juicy, follow up rain system would be very welcome, but we don't have one of those lining up for the southeast in the foreseeable future. Most areas are likely to see less than 10mm over the next week. The next low is crossing the Bight on Wednesday, heading towards the southeast. This one is going to take a very different path to the last one (that slowly trekked across Bass Strait then out to the Tasman Sea - a perfect path for big rainfalls in the southeast). This one is going to deliver 5mm to 10 mm for parts of South Australia (over the Eyre Peninsula, West Coast and Northwest Pastoral), then rapidly dissipate, bringing hardly anything to the rest of the southeast. It then re-forms over the Tasman Sea late in the week, brushing the NSW coast. There is another system lining up to cross the southwest on Friday and South Australia on Saturday. Then this one also dissipates, with just a little rain for the rest of the southeast on Sunday. That does pave the way for another weather system to come up from the south (skipping southwestern Australia), barrelling through the southeast on Monday into Tuesday next week. At this stage it just looks like a regular cold front, with the best falls (10mm to 20mm, locally more) near the coast and in western Tasmania, drying up as it heads north and east. The outlook for the next few months has the moisture part of the rain equation working well: A neutral Pacific Ocean, with plenty of warmer than average water off eastern Australia (to bring us a local source of moisture rather than the global effects of an El Nino or La Nina); and a developing Negative Indian Ocean Dipole (to give us a big push of moisture from the Indian Ocean). But that's the moisture part of the equation - not the instability part. You need low pressure to turn that moisture into rain and if the lows can't track where they are needed, there won't be much rain.
