The current monsoon that is hitting Indochina and Thailand raised a lot of worry to many. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of paddy fields have been sunken in flood and the staple food for South East Asians will definitely be affected. But that is not what should worry Malaysians. At least, not the worst part of the monsoon.
End of last year, Malaysia saw very bad floods across the peninsula. This was the meteorological report of December:
December falls within the Northeast Monsoon. Typically, the active phase of this season lasts from November to January. During this season period, the east coast states of Peninsula, coast of Sarawak and eastern coast of Sabah would be experiencing a few comprehensive heavy rain episode that continuously as long as two to three days result surge monsoon. However, for monsoon period this time, most of the northern Peninsula has recorded much above normal rainfall distribution. The distribution of temperature and evaporation in most areas were below compared to long-term average. For the amount of solar radiation, data recorded in part of the areas were below compared to normal while the rest were above normal.
In December, most of the areas in Peninsula still experiencing continuous wet weather condition especially at Perlis, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and several areas in Kelantan and Selangor with rainfall distribution between 30% to 150% above monthly average. Meanwhile, less total rainfall compared to average has been experienced in most areas in Johor. Other places recorded normal total rainfall.
For Sarawak, the normal rainfall distribution has been experienced in most of the division. Only Bintulu Division has received less total rainfall of 30% compared to monthly average.
In Sabah, most of the divisions has received normal rainfall distribution. Nevertheless, the Federal Territory of Labuan and Kota Kinabalu respectively had received wet weather condition with rainfall of 35% and 95% above monthly average.
Peninsula recorded the number of rainy days ranged from 13 (recorded at the Pulau Langkawi Meteorological Station) to 27 days (recorded at Mersing Meteorological Station). The number of rainy days in Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan ranged from 16 (recorded at the Tawau Meteorological Station) to 26 days (recorded at the Labuan Meteorological Station). For Sarawak, the number of rainy days ranged from 26 (recorded at the Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri Meteorological Stations) to 28 days (recorded at the Kuching Meteorological Station).
Based on the classification scheme, there were 6 stations recorded much above average rainfalll, 4 stations recorded above average and 19 stations recorded average rainfall. Meanwhile, there were 4 stations recorded below average rainfall.
This is was November’s:
The North East Monsoon has started beginning of November 2010 which is the earliest period compared to last year. This month, the wet weather condition has been experienced over the northern part of Peninsula and several places in Sabah and Sarawak. Nevertheless, as in overall the normal rainfall distribution had been experienced in most of the areas in the country. The distribution of temperature and amount of solar radiation in most areas were higher and above the long-term. For the evaporation rate, the data recorded in most of the areas were below compared to long-term average.
The relatively wet weather conditions with rainfall above the mean monthly for the northern state of Peninsula were due to developing tropical depression at the South China Sea in early November 2010. The tropical depression which cross over the northern states of Peninsula had causing the heavy rain and flooding in the State of Kedah, Perlis, partly in Kelantan and Terengganu. The occurrence of flooding was the first flood episode for the North East Monsoon period this year.
In Peninsula, the rainfall distribution between 50% to 80% above its monthly average has been experienced in several places in Kedah, Perlis and Pulau Pinang. Meanwhile, less total rainfall compared to mean has been experienced in Terengganu and several places in east Johore. Other places recorded normal total rainfall.
For Sarawak, the normal rainfall distribution has been experienced in most of the division. Total rainfall of 30% above average has been experienced at several places in Sri Aman and Limbang. Only Kuching has received less total rainfall of 50% compared to monthly average.
In Sabah, most of the divisions has received normal rainfall distribution. Nevertheless, the Federal Territory of Labuan had received wet weather with rainfall of 70% above monthly average. While Kudat has received less rainfall compared to normal which is 30% below average.
Peninsula recorded the number of rainy days ranged from 18 (recorded at the Batu Embun and Mersing Meteorological Stations) to 26 days (recorded at the Ipoh and Kuala Terengganu Meteorogical Stations). The number of rainy days in Sabah and Federal Territory of Labuan ranged from 11 (recorded at the Tawau Meteorological Station) to 22 days (recorded at the Labuan Meteorological Station). For Sarawak, the number of rainy days ranged from 19 (recorded at the Miri Meteorological Station) to 24 days (recorded at Sri Aman and Sibu Meteorological Stations).
Based on the classification scheme, there were 4 stations recorded much above average rainfall, 3 stations recorded above average and 20 stations recorded average rainfall. Meanwhile, there were 5 stations recorded below average rainfall.
Imagine all the rain and factor it by 60% more, for all the three coming months of this year’s monsoon season. And the tide is expected to be high. All that water may not able to be drained into the sea. Even the is no rain in the lowlands, the rushing water down the river coupled with high tide will see these areas be flooded almost instantly.
Why are we telling all these?
Since all these are inevitable and the current flooding of Thailand and Cambodia be of any reference, then all of Malaysia should start to get ready for all these soon to be natural disaster. We should stock up on dry and canned food, bottled water, blankets and temporary bedding and all the logistic channel all these aids and rescue persons is distress. Prone areas’ flood relief centres should be made ready ahead of the natural disaster. Essential medicine should also be stocked up.
Of course, whatever sampans, dingy or small water-crafts which include recreational machines such as jetskis that would make any of these logistic operations smoothers should be made ready and available when they are needed to be deployed.
In short, brace for bad weather. God help us all.