PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is experiencing a "squall line phenomenon" which is causing heavy rain in several parts of the country and leading to low daily average temperature, says the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

       It added that this phenomenon involved a group of storms arranged in a line, accompanied by heavy rain and lightning.

       “The phenomenon brings heavy rain and strong winds with lightning in the early morning, and has a high potential to occur during the south-west monsoon, especially on the west coast of the peninsula and west of Sabah,” MetMalaysia said on Monday (Aug 23).

       The country was also experiencing the south-west monsoon which started in May and is expected to last until the second or third week of September.

       “During this period, the country may also experience a weak monsoon break where changes in wind direction will encourage the formation of active clouds.

       “This causes humid weather conditions and affects temperature changes in the area,” MetMalaysia added.

       Klang Valley has recorded daily average temperature as low as 24℃ in the past weeks due to the frequent rain.

       Records at major MetMalaysia stations showed that the highest daily average temperature recorded in the Klang Valley was 32℃.

       “Observations of total rainfall distribution from the main meteorological stations until Sunday (Aug 22) found that most stations in Peninsular Malaysia showed normal readings except for some stations in the peninsula's northern area which recorded above-average rainfall distribution.

       “Meanwhile, in Sabah and Sarawak, most stations recorded normal readings except in western Sabah which includes Labuan and northern and inland Sarawak, which recorded above average rainfall,” the department said.