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Cool times: That’s right, it really is 26°C in the afternoon as this clock tower along Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, displays.

KUALA LUMPUR: A blast of cold air is blowing across the Klang Valley and most of the peninsula states, bringing with it much lower temperatures.

Unlike previous years when temperatures took a dip during the monsoon season and tailed off towards the end of December, the cold season seems to be extending into the new year.

Many readers of The Star have called up to ask for the scientific reason for the cool climate experienced by residents across the Klang Valley.

Some readers from Klang said that the temperature on some days this year was 27°C and that some parts in the port town were covered in mist in the morning.

Generally temperatures in the lowlands of Malaysia range between 29°C - 35°C during the day and 26°C - 29°C at night, depending on the amount of rainfall and sunlight.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the weather pattern was a bit erratic and the cool weather was expected to continue into the Chinese New Year.

Department spokesman Ramlan Abdul Rahman said Malaysia was still not out of the Northeast monsoon season, which started in November and lasted till March, that brought heavy rainfall to the east side of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

“As this monsoon wind is particularly strong, it often brings heavy rain to the west side of Peninsular Malaysia as well during this period,” he said.

The department has also registered greater cloud activity during the period and forecasts the erratic cloud patterns to last longer.

It said the erratic cloud pattern and rain were the two major contributing factors for the cool weather.

And for many the Year of the Rabbit will not have a ferocious start like in previous years when hot weather reigned throughout the Chinese New Year.

Rather it will be gentle with warm breeze, intermittent rain and occasional thunderstorms.

According to the Meteorological Department, Klang Valley was expected to experience thunderstorms in the afternoon on the first day of Chinese New Year while the skies up north were expected to be clear.

So for a change sit back and enjoy the cool weather while it lasts. - thestar