GEORGE TOWN: While rain and floods were bothering the southern states, the heat in the northern states of Penang, Kedah and Perlis has been balmy, bordering on stifling.

       Since the middle of last month, temperatures up north has been between 33oC and 35oC. This dry spell is expected to carry on until March.

       Penang environment committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said it was a normal pattern at this time every year; hot from December to March.

       “We are seeing the heat at 33°C during the day and 26oC at night.

       “People are not allowed to do open burning now.

       “There are already cases of bush fires, with grassy slopes near cemeteries catching fire,” he said.

       The state, said Phee, had already anticipated the hot weather and was fully prepared with contingency plans, including ensuring dam water levels were sufficient.

       “People should use water wisely. Although we have excellent water supply planning, it should not be taken for granted,” he said.

       Penang Water Supply Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa recently said planning was already done in mid-December for the dry season.

       He said dam capacities were maximised to 98% full during Christmas, before the dry season hit.A check shows that the capacity is now at 87% at Ayer Itam Dam, 87.1% at Teluk Bahang Dam and 92.8% at Mengkuang Dam.

       Last year was a wet one for Penang, with all three dams filled by July to levels three times higher than in previous years.

       But 2020 was a parched one, with Teluk Bahang Dam at just 16% full in September 2020, and Muda Dam in Kedah at just 4.4% full in April 2020.

       According to the Malaysia Meteorological Department website, Kedah is now experiencing heat of 32°C, with mostly sunny weather or isolated showers until Jan 13. Perlis is experiencing heat of more than 33°C with no rain during the same period.