PETALING JAYA, Feb 18 ― The possibility of Malaysia being struck by a heatwave is very remote, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

Its central forecasting division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, said for a state in Malaysia to experience heatwave, the temperature has to be 35 degrees Celcius or more for five consecutive days, and it must be at least two degrees above the long-term average maximum temperature.

"Every state has different daily minimum and maximum temperatures. In order to obtain data of the long-term average maximum temperature, the department would need to take the monthly average temperature of a state for 30 years," he said.

According to Helmi, generally Perlis and Kedah recorded higher long-term average maximum temperatures but the current temperature was still not extreme enough to be defined as a heatwave.

It was reported on Sunday that the maximum temperatures in Lubok Merbau, Alor Star and Petaling Jaya was 36.7 degrees, 35.8 degrees and 34.6 degrees respectively, while yesterday, it was recorded at 33, 35 and 33 respectively.

The long-term average maximum temperature is 33.6 degrees in Lubok Merbau, 34.4 in Alor Star and 33.2 in Petaling Jaya.

Moreover, based on previous records, Helmi said it is normal to experience hot weather in February.

“The public may seem to feel it is out of the ordinary, especially those who experienced the two-week cold episode earlier this year.

“However, it is normal to experience high temperatures in February, March and April due to the position of the sun directly over the equator,” he said.

In the northern states, severe hot and dry weather was common due to a lack of rain in February, with Perlis and Kedah recording only 50mm to 60mm of rain this month.

“Though there are isolated showers in certain areas, February is usually dry. Rain would increase in March and April despite the high temperatures,” said Helmi.

Even though the department does not foresee heatwaves to occur in the near future, Helmi pointed out that Malaysia once experienced a possible heatwave episode in 1998.

The occurrence took place because of El Nino, which enhanced dry spells in the country. That year, the highest temperature recorded in the country was in Chuping, Perlis, on April 9 at 40.1 degrees Celcius.