Super El Niño May Bring Hotter, Drier Conditions in Malaysia Early 2027

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the ongoing strong El Niño is expected to intensify into a Super El Niño by late 2026 and persist into early 2027. This development may lead to reduced precipitation during the final months of the 2026/2027 Northeast Monsoon, specifically from late January through March, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves and drought across Malaysia. Maqrun Fadzli Mohd Fahmi noted that the monsoon’s initial stage, beginning now, should still produce three to five periods of prolonged heavy rain between November and January, raising flood risks in the East Coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and eastern Johor.

Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to stay alert, while those in regions expecting dry weather should prepare for possible water shortages and avoid open burning to limit haze. MetMalaysia will continue round-the-clock monitoring and will release heavy-rain warnings and other advisories as conditions evolve.