Southeast Asian countries are experiencing consecutive days of extreme heat, reaching levels that meteorologists describe as “historic” and unprecedented. What does the weather forecast hold for the region in the coming days?
“The historic heatwave” is affecting the entire Southeast Asian region, according to Maximiliano Herrera, a climate scientist and meteorological historian, as reported in The Guardian. Herrera asserts that the current levels of heat are “unprecedented” as of early April.
Last week, temperatures of 44oC were recorded in Myanmar, marking the first time in the climate history of Southeast Asia that such high temperatures have been measured at this early point in the year. In Hat Yai (Southern Thailand), a record temperature of 40.2oC was noted, while Yên Châu (Sơn La Province, Vietnam) recorded an unprecedented 40.6oC for this time of year. These temperatures reflect atmospheric conditions, and during heatwaves, it is common for the actual perceived temperature outdoors to be 4 to 6oC higher.
High temperatures (perceived temperature) in many cities in Southeast Asia on the afternoon of April 3. (Photo: Zoom Earth, OpenStreetMap).
Due to the dangerously high heat, hundreds of schools in the Philippines have temporarily suspended classes as temperatures exceeded 42oC. In Thailand’s coastal regions, the temperatures have risen to levels that scientists fear could damage coral reefs.
Governments across Southeast Asia have issued warnings and guidelines for citizens to avoid heat-related illnesses, but many workers in sectors such as construction or agriculture cannot avoid outdoor exposure. In Malaysia, a 22-year-old man tragically died from heat exhaustion.
This severe heatwave was anticipated. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) had warned that Southeast Asia would experience “extreme heat” as temperatures frequently rose to 35 – 36oC in February, significantly exceeding the annual average. This situation is attributed to climate change due to human activities, compounded by the El Niño phenomenon.
Last Sunday (April 7), Southeast Asian countries continued to experience very high temperatures. (Photo: Zoom Earth, OpenStreetMap).
Forecasts indicate that the early summer of 2024 in Southeast Asia will be slightly hotter than in 2023, which already saw record-breaking high temperatures; in some areas, temperatures are expected to exceed the annual average by about 30%.
Therefore, we need to mentally prepare and find ways to cope with the heat, as Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an assistant professor at Kasetsart University (Thailand), warns, “the sea is really boiling.”
