'Super' El Nino to bring record temperatures in Malaysia next year, weather agency says
Reuters (20/07/2026) - KUALA LUMPUR, July 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia is expected to see record high temperatures next year as El Niño strengthens, its meteorological department told Reuters.
The El Niño phenomenon is a natural part of the weather cycle, characterised by weakening trade winds and warmer sea currents in the Pacific Ocean. Climate experts have warned of a strong or super-strong El Niño this year, raising risks of severe weather such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves.
"So based on this data, we can expect it's going to be another big spike," Mohd Hisham said, adding that global warming contributed to the rising heat.
The department expects much lower rainfall and higher temperatures across the country, particularly in northern areas of the Malaysian peninsula, as well as in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia's largest palm oil producing states on Borneo island, he said.
Some of El Niño's strongest effects have traditionally been seen in Sabah, due to its proximity to the Pacific, he added.