THE NATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL EARLY

WARNING AND COORDINATION SYSTEM OF MALAYSIA

MALAYSIAN METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENTMINISTRY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND

INNOVATION

SCOPE

Natural Hazards in Malaysia

Monitoring and Early Warning System

Issues and Challenges

Strategies for Improvement

Conclusion

Natural Hazards in MalaysiaNatural Hazards in Malaysia

Weather-related Hazards

Flood / Flash FloodStrong Winds,Rough Seas & Storm SurgeThunderstorms/ LightningTropical Cyclone/ TyphoonForest Fire/HazeAgricultural Drought

Geophysical Hazards

EarthquakeLocal and Regional TsunamiLandslideVolcanic Eruption

Northeast Monsoon (Nov – Mar)

Southwest Monsoon

(Jun–Aug)

Intermonsoon

(Apr-May & Sep-Oct)

Flood

Haze

Flash Flood

Strong Winds & Rough Seas

Typhoon(May – Nov)

Severe Weather in Malaysia

Increase in Natural Hazards

Increase in Extreme Weather Events in Malaysia since the 80s

Severe dry weather in 1998 caused serious water disruptions especially in the Klang Valley.

In December 2005, heavy moonsonal rains brought about major floods in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. In February 2006, heavy moonsonal rains caused widespread floods in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

During the 2006 / 2007 Northeast Monsoon, the southern states of Peninsular Malaysia especially Johor experienced major floods resulting in damages to infrastructure and properties of more than one billion RM.

 In January and February 2011, more than 50,000 people in Johor were evacuated when severe flood hit the state.

 

Tropical Cyclones Intensity Increasing (Winds and Rainfall)

In December 1996, Tropical Storm Greg hit Sabah.

Typhoon Vamei landed on southwest Johor in December 2001Typhoon Vamei landed on southwest Johor in December 2001

Tropical Depression crossed Malaysian waters and southern Thailand causing floods in Perlis and Kedah on 1-2 Nov 2010

Tropical Depression crossed Malaysian waters and southern Thailand causing floods in Perlis and Kedah on 1-2 Nov 2010

METEOROLOGICAL STATION (45)

UPPER AIR STATION (8)

RADAR STATION (13)GROUND RECEIVING STATION (1)

WEATHER CAMERA

STATION (17)

DATA ACQUISITION

AUXILIARY STATIONS(339)• AWS (141)• Climatological Station (39)• Rainfall Station (159)

METEOROLOGICAL STATION (45)

UPPER AIR STATION (8)

RADAR STATION (13)GROUND RECEIVING STATION (1)

WEATHER CAMERA

STATION (17)

DATA ACQUISITION

AUXILIARY STATIONS(339)• AWS (141)• Climatological Station (39)• Rainfall Station (159)

RMAF ButterworthBayan Lepas

RMAF Gong KedakKota Kinabalu

Kuching

RMAF Kuantan

Subang

KLIA

Central Forecast OfficePetaling Jaya

Main Meteorological Offices (10)

KLIA Meteorological Office

Central Forecasting Office

Gong Kedak Meteorological Office

Labuan

Surface Observational Stations Network

Alor Star

BayanLepas

Gong Kedak Kota Kinabalu

Kuching

Kuantan

Subang

KLIA

Petaling Jaya

Chuping

P. Langkawi

Labuan

Sandakan

Kudat

Limbang

Tawau

Kapit

Mulu

Bintulu

Miri

Keningau

Sibu

Seri Aman

Batu Embun

Muadzam Shah

Batu Pahat

Kluang

Mersing

Senai

Temerloh

Cameron Highlands

Kota Bharu

K. Trengganu

Sitiawan

Melaka

Lubuk Merbau

Ipoh

Kuala PilahTioman

Butterworth

Prai

Cameron Highlands

Subang

Sitiawan

Alor Star

Kuala Krai

Ranau

Kerteh

BayanLepas

Kota Kinabalu

Kuching

Kuantan

KLIA

Tawau

Bintulu

Kota Bharu

Upper Air Stations (8)

KLIA Upper Air Station

Agrometeorology

Agromet Auxiliary Stations : 173

Marine Observational Network

• 4 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) and 2 Recording Doppler Current Profiler (RDCP) -real time

• Data from various agencies : Royal Navy, Marine Dept, Oil & Gas, Scientific Expedition etc

• Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS)

Bintulu RDCP

VOS

Sandakan RDCP

KLUANG

SETAR

KUANTAN BINTULU

Omar

BUTTERWORTH SANDAKAN

SUBANG

KOTA BHARU

KUCHING

KOTAKINABALU

KLIA

P. JAYA

Satellite And Radar Stations

(Doppler)

DOPPLER RADAR STATION

12 fixed

1 mobile

SATELLITE STATION(5 systems)

MIRI

Radar Echoes

KLIA DOPPLER RADARKLIA DOPPLER RADAR

MMD RADARMMD RADAR

NOAA GEO-STATIONARY

Hotspot & Haze Monitoring

Weather Monitoring

MODIS

Research & Analyses:Chlorophyll, SST & Vegetation Index

Satellite Products

NWP Models

MMD-MM5

MMD-WRF

MMD-HRM

Marine ModelsMMD-JMA MRI III Wave Model MMD-WAM Wave Model

MMD-JMA Storm Surge Model

MMD-JMA Oil Spill Model

MMD- JMA Oil Spill Model

Oil Spill

Hysplit Trajectory Model

Fire Danger Rating System

Fine Fuel Moisture Code

Fire Weather Index

Drought Code

DUFF Moisture Code

Initial SpreadIndex

Build Up Index

Marine Regions

Forecasts for Port and Ferry Operators

Kuantan

PTP

Bintulu

Miri

K. Kinabalu

South China SeaSulu Sea

Penang

Kuching

P. Klang

Johor Bahru

Sandakan

Warning Stages

Criteria

YellowYellowPossibility of a monsoonal rain in the next 3 – 5 days

Possibility of heavy rains and strong winds/tropical depression in the next 3 – 5 days

OrangeOrange

Moderate monsoonal rainfall is occurring/will occur in the next couple of hours. Possibility of flood.

Tropical depression with speeds of 50-60 kmph accompanied with moderate rains becoming heavy.

RedRed

Widespread heavy monsoonal rainfall is occurring/will occur in the next couple of hours. Possibility of major flood.

Tropical storm/typhoon with speeds from 60 kmph accompanied with moderate rains becoming heavy.

Criteria for Heavy Monsoonal Rain and Tropical Cyclones

Category Criteria

First First Strong winds 40-50 kmph and rough seas Strong winds 40-50 kmph and rough seas with wave height up to 3.5 metres. with wave height up to 3.5 metres.

SecondSecond Strong winds 50 – 60 kmph and rough Strong winds 50 – 60 kmph and rough seas with wave height up to 4.5 metres. seas with wave height up to 4.5 metres.

ThirdThird Strong winds from 60 kmph and rough Strong winds from 60 kmph and rough seas with wave height from 4.5 metres. seas with wave height from 4.5 metres.

Criteria for Strong Winds & Rough Seas Warning

Dissemination of Advisories/Warnings on Heavy Monsoonal Rain, Tropical Cyclone,

Strong Winds & Rough Seas SMS(VIP, disaster management agencies) SMS(VIP, disaster management agencies) TV BroadcastTV Broadcast

RTM1 - Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia, 1 pm & RTM1 - Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia, 1 pm &

5 pm Regional News5 pm Regional NewsTV CrawlerTV Crawler

Radio Broadcast(Light FM, Radio 24 etc.)Radio Broadcast(Light FM, Radio 24 etc.) Facsimile(All disaster management Facsimile(All disaster management

agencies) agencies) Mass Media (Print and Electronic)Mass Media (Print and Electronic) Web page: Web page: www.met.gov.my Social Media NetworkSocial Media Network Facebook: Facebook: www.facebook.com/malaysiamet

Twitter: Twitter: twitter.com/#!/malaysianmet

Visual Strong Wind Warning System

Red Flag (5)

Getting Fishery Complex

Stesen Meteorologi K. Trengganu

P. Chendering Fishery Complex

K. Pahang Fishermen Association

Nenasi Fishermen Association

K. Rompin Fishermen Association

LKIM Mersing Mukah Fishermen Association

Bintulu Fishermen Association

Miri Fishermen Association

n

South China Sea

Straits of Malacca

Sulu Sea

Celebes Sea

Notice Board (7)

MK Kuah Langkawi

Pangkor

Dissemination(additional)Whenever necessary, additional channels are

used especially for Tsunami Advisory/Warning:

- Siren(certain locations only)

-Fixed Line Alert System (FLAS) (ensure the warnings to evacuate reach the communities)

This mode of dissemination may be extended to cover meteorological hazards.

   

EXHIBITIONS DIALOGUES

MEDIA SESSIONS

Severe Weather and Tsunami Awareness Programs

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

PENGETAHUAN RISIKO

PEOPLE-CENTRED EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE-CENTRED EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR WEATHER, SEA & TSUNAMI WEATHER, SEA & TSUNAMI

OBSERVATION & WARNING SYSTEM

DISSEMINATION & COMMUNICATION

RESPONSE CAPACITY

Inadequate coverage of observational stations: siren, seismic, automatic weather stations and radar.

Lack of scientific understanding on tropical meteorology: accuracy and lead time of forecast/warning could not be improved. Small-scaled weather systems such as thunderstorms & squall-line could produce substantial damages but are extremely hard to predict.

Rapid urbanization led to increased localised convection due to the heat island effect.

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

Lead Time and Forecast Skill

Disruption in information dissemination system particularly SMS and Internet during peak season/hours. For example: The MMD’s webpage hit could rise from 600,000 to 5 millions per day.

Huge cost of acquiring and maintaining observational instruments and systems.  

Low level of awareness on disaster due to limited capacity and resources to educate the public.

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

Establishing observational stations at strategic locations and upgrading existing ones.

Operationalization of advanced weather and marine numerical models.

Enhancing the dissemination of warnings through various telecommunication channels.

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Colloboration with local authority involved in disaster management on data sharing(Blue Ocean Strategy).

Conducting regular awareness programs.

Forging cooperation with local and international research agencies. 

STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

Thank You