KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — The Meteorological Department (MET) has forecast that the haze will clear up from Saturday with the start of the monsoon season.

According to The New Straits Times, MET director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said although the intermonsoon began last month, the two tropical storms coming from east Philippines, Mijugae and Choi-wan, made conditions in Malaysia drier.

“The intermonsoon period typically makes the wind flow pattern in Malaysia generally light and variable.

“With this period and the north-east wind coming after it, the haze condition will improve, as the coming monsoon is expected to bring thunderstorms and strong winds,”

“Typically, the wind should be light and variable right now, if it weren’t for the presence of two tropical storms coming from east Philippines, Mijugae and Choi-wan,” he told the English language daily.

During this period, he said steady northeast winds will blow across Peninsula Malaysia as periods of strong cold surges occur in the north.

“It will take time for conditions to improve, but the smog should clear after October 10 when the northeast wind enters to relieve Malaysia of the haze,” Che Gayah added.

The annual haze season which began early September is still ongoing with 7,000 schools in Malaysia closed today and tomorrow over the worsening air quality in Peninsula Malaysia.