According to climatologist Emeritus Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah, the heat up north was due to the monsoon trough having shifted to the southern South China Sea. ALSO READ: Unidentified explosions disrupt efforts to extinguish peatland fireA monsoon trough is a low-pressure belt where converging winds can cause prolonged rain. Explaining further, Azizan said the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) weather system, which usually supports thunderstorms and wet conditions in the north, was also in a dry phase. The heat up north, he said, was expected to last up until about April when the inter-monsoon period sets in. At press time, the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had issued a Level 1 heatwave alert for Pokok Sena and Padang Terap in Kedah.

Source: The Star February 09, 2026 03:45 UTC