PUCHONG: An early warning for continuous heavy rain can only be issued between one and three days before the rainfall occurs, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
Clarifying on reports that major floods are expected to happen at the end of November, MetMalaysia director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said there is no such technology at present that can forecast weather in the coming two months.
"We forecasted that there will be between four and six monsoon surges to happen during this northeast monsoon from November to March next year, but we do not know when and where it will take place.
"It is inaccurate to say that it will happen at the end of November.
"Our standard operating procedure is to issue an early warning one to three days before the rains; that what's the current technology allows us to do," he said during a briefing session on natural disaster management today.
Monsoon surges occur when a sudden increase in wind speed causes the cold air to surge southwards into the South China Sea.
As the cold air moves south, it warms and gathers moisture, resulting in dense rain clouds over the equatorial region.
Helmi said the total amount of rainfall during this year's northeast monsoon was predicted to be the same as last year.
"We can only forecast the total amount of rainfall by taking into account the ongoing global phenomenon, La Nina, and Indian Ocean Dipole, but we still do not know how great the impact will be or which areas will be mostly affected.
"What's crucial is that we are prepared for it," he said.
Recently, it was reported that large-scale floods caused by continuous heavy rains are expected in the country from mid-November.
Last year and early this year, six monsoon surges occurred, namely on last Nov 10, Dec 2 to Dec 4, Dec 12 to Dec 19, Dec 27 to Jan 4, Jan 5 to 13 and Feb 24 to 27.
Helmi also said MetMalaysia had intensified its monitoring activities to curb increasing extreme weather phenomenon.
"Through observations, we are able to issue warnings, (that can help with preparation).
"Currently, we have 14 radars and five are in the installation process in various states to enhance our monitoring," he said.