KOTA KINABALU: Cloud seeding operations have yet to be performed due to the absence of required weather conditions.
Sabah Meteorological department director Amirzudi Hashim said that the main reasons for conducting such an operation are unhealthy levels of haze and critical water scarcity issues for domestic and agricultural use due to hot and dry weather conditions.
On March 7, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya announced that the state government had agreed to conduct cloud seeding following the prolonged dry spell.
Currently, Papar has activated its disaster centre due to water shortages affecting 150,000 people.
Another area of concern is Sebatik Island in Tawau, where the water dam has dried up, and residents are relying on tube wells for supply.
Amirzudi said that three conditions are necessary to ensure the success of the operation.
"The first is unstable atmospheric conditions that encourage the formation of rain clouds, specifically cumulonimbus clouds.
"There should also be the presence of suitable clouds, such as towering cumulus clouds, and the atmospheric conditions should have high humidity content," he said.
He added that despite the fulfilment of these conditions, it is still difficult to measure and determine the success rate of cloud seeding.
It will depend on varying atmospheric conditions and compositions from one location to another.
Typically, rain will fall between 30 to 60 minutes after cloud seeding operations are performed on towering cumulus clouds.
"Therefore, cloud seeding cannot be conducted yet because, based on the analysis of current atmospheric conditions, the likelihood of cloud seeding success is very low and may not yield the expected results.
"MET Malaysia continues to monitor atmospheric conditions in Sabah and will recommend cloud seeding implementation when conditions permit."