AS Penang is experiencing the southwest monsoon phase (started on May 19 ), the lower air humidity results in less cloud formation producing rain and therefore causes a dry season.
Even though, the southwest monsoon phase is expected to continue until September, Penang will be still experiencing isolated rainfalls for the next six days, from July 27 till Aug 1.
This is based on the weather forecast report published on the Malaysian Meteorological Department website with no weather abnormalities reported.
The website describes the southwest monsoon phase as a period whereby the wind consistently blows from the southwest with lower air humidity which typically results in more stable atmospheric conditions, resulting in less cloud formation producing rain.
However, with the existence of unstable atmospheric conditions, sometimes it can cause the formation of rain in some areas in the peninsula as well as Sarawak and Sabah.
Based on the statistics provided by the Malaysian Meteorological Department, in the peninsula, the highest daily rainfall was recorded in Batu Pahat (Johor) on June 7 with a reading of 98.6mm.
In Sabah, the highest daily rainfall was recorded at 105.4mm in Kota Kinabalu on June 18 and in Sarawak, the highest daily rainfall was recorded in Mulu on June 5 with a reading of 91.4mm.
On daily evaporation rate for lowlands, the website reported that Bayan Lepas in Penang recorded the lowest daily evaporation rate of 2.60mm per day.
It is understood that most lowland areas have an average daily evaporation rate of 2.5mm per day to 4.5mm per day.
Meanwhile, based on the data published on the Penang Water Supply Corporation website (as of July 26), the effective capacities at Air Itam, Teluk Bahang and Mengkuang Dams is at 65.2 %, 58.7 % and 93.2 % respectively.
For further info on the weather forecast and as well as the Penang dams’ water levels, check out the following websites :
https://www.met.gov.my/home (the Malaysian Meteorological Department)
https://pba.com.my/ (Penang Water Supply Corporation)
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter