Early Signs Of Success From Cloud Seeding In Kedah, Perlis - Ahmad Zahid

SUBANG JAYA, April 7 (Bernama) -- Cloud seeding operations launched yesterday are starting to yield results, with water levels at dams in Perlis and Kedah seeing slight rises, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee, said weather radar data showed that rain began at 3.30 pm over the Muda Dam in Kedah, then became more widespread and persistent across targeted areas in Kedah and Perlis between 6 pm and 8 pm.

The conditions brought rainfall ranging from 29.8mm to 34.7mm in Perlis and from 9.3mm to 30.9mm in Kedah between 7 pm and 8 pm.

He said a Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) report recorded 13.5mm of rain at Pedu station, 6.0mm to 49.0mm at Muda station, and 2.0mm to 4.0mm in Ahning, all in Kedah.

“On its second day today, operations are focusing on the Pedu Dam in Kedah and Timah Tasoh in Perlis, both hit by unusually hot conditions, to boost water levels for domestic, industrial and agricultural use,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid spoke to reporters today after overseeing the coordination of cloud seeding operations by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) for Kedah and Perlis at Subang Air Base.

He said that with extreme hot weather expected to continue until the end of the month before easing in June, operations will continue until April 10, with wind and cloud movements monitored to ensure rainfall over the targeted areas.

The operations, carried out with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, are also set to expand to Perak and Johor, which are facing dry conditions and peatland fires.

Ahmad Zahid noted that the focus will be on the Temenggor and Bukit Merah dams in Perak, and on the Lebam, Upper Layang, Lower Layang, Gunung Pulai, and Machap dams in Johor.

He said that for this operation, the technical team from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) used 200 kg of salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in 1,500 litres of water per tank, adding that four saltwater tanks were loaded onto a TUDM C-130 Hercules and flown at 5,000-9,000 feet to disperse into cumulus clouds over the targeted areas.

“The saltwater speeds up raindrop formation, with rain usually falling 30 to 60 minutes after cloud seeding,” he added.

In a related update, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said fire hotspots remain few and under control, with just one reported in Selangor and a handful in Johor.

-- BERNAMA