Residents of the Klang Valley might be relishing the increased rainfall of late – even if it doesn’t translate into more reliable water supply – but an expert says another long dry spell is expected to be in effect between June and October this year.
Biodiversity and climate expert, and director of the Global Environment Centre Faizal Parish also said the current intermonsoon season, expected to last until mid-May, will not bring as much rain as it did during similar periods in previous years.
“We are likely to get another long, dry period from June until October this year, according to latest predictions by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre in Singapore. We also expect less rain than usual in April,” he said.
“If there is not enough rain over the next two months, water reserves will still be low during the next dry season, with the possibility of another water shortage and more rationing.”
Faizal said the year’s second dry season would also usher the return of the haze, and a high risk of forest and peat fires. The last dry spell throughout January and February had already lowered water levels in local dams to critical and near-critical levels.
He added that the dry spells were linked to global climate change, and such extreme events were becoming more frequent worldwide, not just in Malaysia.
“Rapid development can also be a contributing factor as the loss of forest impacts local climate and rainfall,” he said.
See Also: Stage 4 of water rationing to start on April 4; 6.7 million people will not have reliable water supply by Friday; Water rationing to last until December?; All the rain we’ve been having hasn’t filled up our dams
Story: The Star Online
