Super El Nino in 2027 could break Malaysia’s 40.1°C record

Malaysia anticipates a scorching Super El Niño season from March to May 2027, which may surpass the country's previous high temperature record of 40.1°C. The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general, Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, explained that temperatures could potentially exceed 41°C due to the influence of the intense El Niño phenomenon, climate change, and global warming.

Dr Hisham highlighted that the country's average temperature increase is around 0.13°C per decade, and when combined with El Niño, temperatures might surpass the 40.1°C record set in 1998. The current El Niño is expected to record an index of more than 2.5, surpassing the 2.3 index during the 1997/1998 and 2015/2016 episodes. During strong El Niño events, daily maximum temperatures can rise by up to 0.7°C above normal, and temperatures above 35°C are anticipated to occur more frequently and for extended periods.

The previous El Niño episodes recorded peak temperatures of 39.3°C in 2016. Dr Hisham warned that the country might face a 77-day stretch without rain, starting in December and continuing through to March. The 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, which is forecast to begin late October, is crucial to ensure dams receive sufficient rainfall and water storage levels are increased before the drier months ahead.

Dr Hisham emphasized that the upcoming hot and dry spell next year could result in high energy consumption, especially due to increased usage of air conditioners. To address this, MetMalaysia has informed the relevant agencies, and the issue will be discussed at the upcoming Disaster Management Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.