KUALA LUMPUR, March 9 — As the search continues for Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370, the main weather concern will be building seas, Fox News reports.
The search, however, will benefit from a lack of rain and thunderstorms as unusually dry weather persists across the southern South China Sea and the neighbouring Gulf of Thailand.
“The Malay Peninsula has been in the midst of a severe drought since the beginning of the year,” AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Anthony Sagliani was quoted by the news portal as saying.
However, Fox News reports that building seas are expected through tomorrow with a stiff northeasterly breeze in place. Wave heights may reach heights of one to two metres across the southern South China Sea.
Skies were mainly clear across the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand when MH370’s last known position was recorded. Lightning detection maps obtained by AccuWeather.com indicate the area was free of thunderstorms.
According to AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Alan Reppert, there was some light rain and snow falling over South and Central China at the time the plane went missing.
MAS confirmed early yesterday morning that MH370 lost contact with the Subang Air Traffic Control at about 2.40am, some two hours after the flight left from KLIA.
It was later clarified that the plane disappeared from the radar screen even earlier at 1.30am, when the plane was hovering about 120 nautical miles off Kota Baru.
The Beijing-bound aircraft was carrying 239 passengers onboard, including 12 crew members and two infants.
