Melaka election flood risk remains low, says meteorologist
KUALA LUMPUR: The risk of major flooding during the Melaka election, expected in November, is low, but monsoon surges must be monitored, a meteorologist says.
Melaka's risk of major flooding during the upcoming November election is low, according to a UM meteorologist. While the Northeast Monsoon typically brings more rain, it doesn't automatically mean flooding in the state. Azizan Abu Samah, professor emeritus at Universiti Malaya, noted that weather conditions during the election would also be affected by the El Niño phenomenon, which may reduce the likelihood of prolonged heavy rain.
He added that while flash floods are possible, if voters head to the polls in the morning, rain should not be a significant issue. The Malaysian Meteorological Department has extensive experience in monitoring and forecasting monsoon surges, issuing early warnings if necessary. Computerized forecasts can indicate monsoon surges up to four to seven days in advance, with more useful predictions within 48 to 72 hours.
Monsoon surges can generally be detected several days ahead based on shifts in atmospheric pressure systems, such as a high pressure over Siberia and China. However, Azizan said it was too early to determine the weather specifically on polling day, as the election date is still unknown.
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