No date yet for monsoon shift to ease haze
KUALA LUMPUR: There is no confirmed date yet for a change in monsoon conditions that could help ease the current haze, with the Department of Environment (DoE) leaving the timing to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).
The Department of Environment in Malaysia has not yet confirmed a date for a shift in monsoon conditions that could help alleviate the current haze issue. Deputy Director-General Azuri Azizah Saedon mentioned that the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) will determine the timing, as weather conditions could change.
She stated that Malaysia is currently experiencing the Southwest Monsoon, which would soon transition into the inter-monsoon period. DoE hopes that this shift in weather conditions will help reduce the haze episode. A change in wind direction, specifically from north to south, could also improve the situation. Previously, on September 16, DoE recorded 1,418 enforcement and monitoring actions nationwide to curb activities that could worsen air quality.
The monsoon change was expected to occur around October or November, though no definite date could be provided. MetMalaysia director-general Dr. Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip stated that the Southwest Monsoon was expected to change direction after mid-October and transition to the Northeast Monsoon. This change would reduce the amount of smoke from Indonesia carried towards Malaysia, as the Southwest Monsoon winds would change direction after mid-October to the Northeast Monsoon.
He urged the public to remain vigilant against local fires, emphasizing that the change would be gradual and prevent any local fires.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
