Latest news with #dryweather
Malay Mail
20 hours ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
King advises public to protect health amid rising haze levels
KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 — His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysiam has advised the public to remain vigilant amid the current dry weather conditions which could increase the risk of fires and haze. His Majesty said the situation could also affect health, particularly among children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory problems. 'The public is advised to take care of their health and monitor the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings from time to time. This is because the hot and dry weather can cause fires to spread rapidly,' His Majesty said in a statement uploaded to the Facebook page of Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. His Majesty also decreed that the authorities intensify patrols and monitoring of any open burning activities that could affect the country's air quality. The country is currently experiencing haze, believed to be caused by open burning following the detection of several hotspots in Sumatra, Indonesia, as reported by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia). Department of Environment Director-General Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar was reported as saying today that 66 out of 68 air quality monitoring stations nationwide recorded moderate air quality levels as of 9 am. He said the remaining two stations recorded good air quality readings. — Bernama
BBC News
20 hours ago
- Climate
- BBC News
No trains to call at Crewkerne Station as weather disturbs tracks
Trains will no longer stop at a Somerset railway station after dry weather changed the levels of the tracks.A speed restriction had previously been introduced for trains using a four-mile stretch of the railway line at Crewkerne after clay embankments dried out and disturbed the Rail and South Western Rail (SWR) have now announced no trains will operate from Crewkerne Station from replacement buses will instead take people to connecting trains at Yeovil Junction and Axminster until further notice. Tom McNamee from Network Rail said repeated delays in the Crewkerne area can lead to widespread cancellations and gaps in services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids."We have carefully studied the impact and unfortunately it will not be possible to operate a safe and reliable timetable while calling at Crewkerne," he added. SWR and Network Rail warned additional restrictions and timetable changes are likely to be necessary on the line between Salisbury and Axminster over the summer as dry weather continues."We will continue to carefully monitor [soil moisture levels] and give customers as much notice as possible," Mr McNamee said.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Unpredictable winds rule out cloud seeding for Bukit Merah lake, other fixes sought to address low water levels
IPOH, July 21 — Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said it is not the right time to carry out cloud seeding despite the rapidly falling water level at Bukit Merah Dam, which now threatens nearby padi fields due to the prolonged dry weather. Saarani said that the current wind conditions are too unpredictable, which could result in rainfall missing the targeted area. 'I've been informed that the Meteorological Department has advised against conducting cloud seeding at this time because the wind direction is uncertain. 'They cannot confirm whether the rain will fall into Bukit Merah Lake. If it doesn't, the effort would be in vain,' he said at a press conference after attending the Meet the Customers' Day programme at Stadium Indera Mulia here. Saarani added that the state government is cautious not to repeat the mistake made in 2022, when cloud seeding resulted in rainfall over residential areas instead of the Bukit Merah reservoir, leading to public dissatisfaction. 'For that reason, we can't simply proceed with cloud seeding without expert advice from technical departments and relevant ministries, including the Meteorological Department. 'I was also informed that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) has taken the initiative to assess whether cloud seeding is currently feasible,' he said. Saarani said the state government is now focusing on alternative measures, such as channeling water from nearby rivers that have not yet dried up. He also expressed hope that the Federal Government would expedite the project to divert water directly from the Perak River to Bukit Merah Lake. 'This is a very technical issue, and the problem of drying dams and rivers occurs almost every year. We sincerely hope the Federal Government can accelerate the project. 'Initially, the request was solely to resolve irrigation issues in northern Perak. But after Penang submitted a similar request, the entire initiative was bundled together. 'So now, it's not just about diverting water from the Perak River to Bukit Merah, but also about establishing a Water Treatment Plant to provide clean water to residents in northern Perak, with the surplus to be sold as treated water to Penang,' he said. It was reported that persistent heat and lack of consistent rainfall over the past few months has caused the areas surrounding the dam to become dry and barren. The situation has also affected padi fields, which have dried up due to the drought, while local inland fishermen have been forced to halt operations as their boats are now stranded and unable to reach open water.
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
SSE Posts Lower Renewables Output on Driest Weather in 50 Years
SSE Plc said hot, dry weather across Scotland significantly reduced renewable-power generation in the last quarter. The prolonged dry heat reduced output from the utility's hydroelectric plants by more than 40% year-on-year, SSE said in a statement. Total renewables production declined 4%.
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
High temperatures, dry conditions cause forest fire concern in Cape Breton
High temperatures and dry weather are raising concerns about wildfires in Cape Breton. With temperatures soaring and dry conditions around the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, some are casting a wary eye toward the woods. 'I am surrounded by trees, and you know what? Fire has always been a concern of mine,' said Sheilah MacDonald, a woodlot owner who lives on the Morrison Road just outside of Sydney. With wildfires burning on the Bonavista Peninsula in Newfoundland, MacDonald is worried they could happen where she lives. 'I put together a 'go bag' in the event of a fire, because if one comes through there's really nothing I can do about it," MacDonald said. Most parts of Nova Scotia are currently under burn restrictions. The forest protection manager for the province's Department of Natural Resources, Scott Tingley, said rainfall has been below seasonal average - leaving water levels low in lakes, rivers and streams. 'As we see water levels or days without precipitation increase we see that forest floor and all that dead organic material. More and more that becomes available as fuel', Tingley said. North Sydney Volunteer Fire chief Lloyd MacIntosh said most people follow the safety rules including burn bans but it is even more important to be vigilant right now. 'It wouldn't be too hard to set a fire in conditions like this,' MacIntosh said. 'If you can walk on the grass and the grass is crunchy, that's too dry. Sometimes it's just luck that keeps things safe and right now I'd say we're in a lucky position. We have to be careful. People have to be careful.' Beaches are another casualty of the warm conditions. Oakfield Park Beach outside Halifax is closed to swimming because of a possible blue-green algae bloom. MacDonald said she has an exit strategy in case a wildfire breaks out but she's still afraid. 'It doesn't make it any less nerve-wracking, considering the number of trees that are down in the woods right now after Fiona,' she said. Tingley sad one saving grace might be the high humidity, which he says can help reduce forest fire risk. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
