{
  "id": 3961613,
  "title": "Thunderstorms may offer temporary haze relief as Sarawak braces for prolonged dry spell, says MetMalaysia state director",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/thunderstorms-may-offer-temporary-haze-relief-as-sarawak-braces-for-3961613",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T12:00:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/08/28/thunderstorms-may-offer-temporary-haze-relief-as-sarawak-braces-for-prolonged-dry-spell-says-metmalaysia-state-director/233092"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUCHING, Aug 28 — Thunderstorms that have hit parts of Sarawak in recent days may bring brief relief from the haze, but the improvement is unlikely to be long-lasting if hot, dry conditions persist and smoke sources continue to be active, said Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Sarawak director Khairul Najib Ibrahim. He explained thunderstorms are typical in tropical countries and can form rapidly when atmospheric conditions become highly unstable. The high daytime heat combined with Sarawak's natural humidity has created the right conditions for large storm clouds and localised thunderstorms, some accompanied by strong winds, he told The Borneo Post. Khairul Najib said the recent thunderstorms were not unusual despite the generally hotter and drier period in Sarawak during the Southwest Monsoon. He explained that the unusually high daytime temperatures and high humidity over the past week had created highly unstable atmospheric conditions. As warm, humid air rises, it forms storm clouds that can produce thunderstorms and strong winds. Haze particles can also contribute to cloud formation by acting as nuclei for water droplets to form. Rainfall could improve air quality by removing some smoke and dust particles through wet deposition, but the benefit may be short-lived if the smoke sources remain active, such as fires in Kalimantan. Sarawak continues to face hazy conditions due to a prolonged period of hot and dry weather. Khairul Najib warned that prevailing winds and hotspots in neighbouring countries could contribute to transboundary haze, especially in western and southern Sarawak. The public should also prepare for a prolonged dry spell, as Malaysia, including Sarawak, is currently experiencing moderate El Niño conditions. These conditions could continue until at least April 2027, and the current El Niño could strengthen to a strong or \"super\" El Niño around October to December, prolonging hot and dry conditions and potentially exacerbating haze if fires and other smoke sources remain active. Khairul Najib urged the public to follow authority instructions, stay updated on weather developments, and take necessary precautions, particularly during potentially intense thunderstorms.",
  "summary": "KUCHING, Aug 28 — Thunderstorms that have swept parts of Sarawak in recent days may bring temporary relief from th...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Borneo Post Online",
        "title": "Power supply remains stable despite prolonged dry weather, Sarawak Energy assures",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/power-supply-remains-stable-despite-prolonged-dry-weather-sarawak",
        "published": "2026-08-28T10:30:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Thunderstorms may offer temporary haze relief as Sarawak braces for prolonged dry spell, says MetMalaysia state director",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/thunderstorms-may-offer-temporary-haze-relief-as-sarawak-braces-for-3960652",
        "published": "2026-08-28T12:00:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}