kingoflostfools

I think Penang and especially Tanjong Tokong suffers from the urban heat island problem. Too much concrete which absorbs the heat and not enough trees which give shade and cooling.

NeonHippy

#IVV were you being sarcastic, ironic or sardonic? Either way I'm sure there was no offence intended.

InVinoVeritas

Well now there's a tough one. Given I was responding to a comment which was, on the one hand, somewhat vague it could be I was being sardonic. On the other hand, given this thread is about Penang and we don't get temperatures in the low 20's, it could be I was being being sarcastic. Which is all rather ironic, don't you think?

SushiFan

You could be correct about the urban heat island problem. Plenty of concrete around here, and even more under development.

InVinoVeritas

Up at Kek Lok Si you can feel this effect on a smaller scale, way hotter than the Botanic Gardens!

OriginalSunshine

Please help me understand where this thread was specifically about Penang, given the number of different locations mentioned even on the 1st page?

Actually you know, please don't. I don't know why I bothered coming back to this forum given the hostility I encounter.

NeonHippy

A lot of people are attracted to this forum for help, advice and general information, often without making any contribution. Posts that are inaccurate or incorrect are quickly corrected. Where a post is vague, the sardonic side of British humour usually ensures a tongue in cheek response.

Far better that you comment 'Here in 《insert location》the temperature can range from X to Y' than to give some vague response. I have never been there but I understand that in the Arabian desert it can be blisteringly hot during the day and freezing at night, which beats your original reply by quite some margin.

OS I don't know your nationality, maybe you are not English and struggle with our humour. And yes, I know the forum is open to all not just Brits living in Penang on an MM2H visa. We just happen to nothing better to do other than to be prolific posters. Don't go and don't be so sensitive but do think about your posts, are they helpful, accurate and correct?

bakedbean

It's that time of the year again. Maybe it's because I've been away, but isn't it much hotter than usual? I saw a farcebooker mention 38 degrees C and the humidity is of course off the scale in March. My aircon units are groaning.

JC3

Hi Abdul,
Could Penang call on your help again please?
Some rain anyday now would be great!

JC3

SushiFan

It is indeed hotter. The newspapers talk about heatwave and are speculating whether the schools should remain closed (or refrain from outdoor activities) next week. The heatwave is supposedly going to continue until the end of the month. Changes will take place in April, when the weather patterns slowly change from a north-eastern monsoon to a south-western one.

owned

I thought that too as I've been seeing 40c on my cars display. But a couple of days ago I was driving down green lane past the race course my car was reading 40c and the temp gauge by the race course sign was also reading 40c. About 5 mins further down green lane and my car was reading 41c. Interestingly though, when I got to gurney drive it was down to 36c on the car display, must be the cooling effect of the water. I've never seen the race course temp gauge go higher than 35c.

I have a very accurate digital thermometer at my house with the sensor placed in the shade and away from any ground that could help produce a false reading due to thermal effects, and that has not gone over 35.8c so far this year. Most days are reading between 34 to 35.5 at the moment in the afternoon. This lower reading could be because my house is high up on a hill though. I'm no where near sea level.

I was reading that they expect next week to get even hotter. They say the max on Tuesday could be around 43c.

bakedbean

I keep seeing links to the Equinox phenomenon Maybe someone more learned than myself can comment on this.
Malaysia ready to face extreme heat wave | Astro Awani

InVinoVeritas

I think Dr Mazlan has a degree in Stating the Bleedin' Obvious!

NeonHippy

Surely for using so many words to say not very much his dissertation is worthy of a chair.

For bb's benefit, the earth is slightly tilted on its axis so that as it orbits the sun it has a more northerly attitude facing the sun during the summer months and a more southerly attitude facing the sun during the winter months. It is at its most southerly position (23.5°S) on the winter solstice (around Dec 21), moves up until it crosses the equator on the spring equinox (around March 21) reaching its most northerly position (23.5°N) on the summer solstice (around Dec 21). It then moves back south, crossing the equator again on the autumn equinox (around Sep 21).

So as Penang is near the equator the sun will be directly overhead two times a year. But Penang sits at a latitude of 5.4 °N so the sun won't be directly overhead until, I am guessing, about 3 weeks after the spring equinox and 3 weeks before the autumn equinox. Which by my calculation means the temperature won't peak until the middle of April.

quiltman

If you have any spare rain please send it over to us. Reservoirs are nearly dry , really hot most days - around 33/34 - and quite humid. Having to drink lots of canned liquid to keep hydrated but think there's something not quite right as I have a heck of a headache each morning!