MetMalaysia Warns Of Super El Nino Risk, Temperatures May Exceed 41°C Record In Early 2027

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 13 – Malaysia is bracing for a potential Super El Niño phenomenon expected between March and May 2027, which could drive daily maximum temperatures past 41 degrees Celsius and shatter the national record high of 40.1 degrees Celsius.

Speaking at a press conference following the National Climate Forum 2026 at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Director-General Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip stated that the combined impacts of global warming and a severe El Niño cycle could push local temperatures over a degree higher than previous historical peaks.

The event, held under the theme “Preparedness Today, Resilience Tomorrow,” gathered more than 500 representatives across government agencies and ministries.

Malaysia’s existing historical high of 40.1 degrees Celsius was recorded in Chuping, Perlis, on April 9, 1998, during the 1997/1998 El Niño event, while the 2015/2016 episode peaked at 39.3 degrees Celsius in Batu Embun, Pahang.

Index Intensity, Dry Spell Projections, and National Preparedness

MetMalaysia detailed climate indices, water storage imperatives, energy grid demands, and public health warning frameworks:

• Record-Breaking El Niño Index: MetMalaysia projects the upcoming El Niño index to surpass 2.5, exceeding the peak level of 2.3 recorded during both the 1997/1998 and 2015/2016 events. Daily maximum temperatures are expected to rise up to 0.7 degrees Celsius above normal levels.
• Prolonged Dry Conditions: Northern Peninsular states face the risk of up to 77 consecutive days without rainfall starting as early as December 2026 and extending into early 2027.
• Northeast Monsoon Reservoir Filling: Dr Mohd Hisham stressed that the 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, commencing in late October, is crucial for filling national water dams to capacity ahead of dry weather next year, aligning with directives from Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
• Power Grid Capacity Concerns: MetMalaysia alerted energy authorities to prepare for surges in electricity consumption driven by widespread air conditioning usage to prevent power grid strain and outages.
• Disaster Council & Health Heat Index: MetMalaysia will table its climate forecast at the upcoming Disaster Management Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim next week, while collaborating with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to establish a comprehensive Heat Index for public safety warnings.

MetMalaysia continues to operate its three-tier hot weather monitoring system, classifying temperatures of 35°C and above as Level 1 (Caution), 37°C and above as Level 2 (Heatwave), and 40°C and above as Level 3 (Emergency).

–NMT