NADMA Committed To Conducting Cloud-seeding Ops To Ensure Safe Dam Water Levels

SUBANG, April 10 (Bernama) -- The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) is willing to conduct cloud-seeding operations (OPAs) nationwide based on state government requests in an effort to ensure stable dam water levels due to the current hot weather conditions.

Its deputy director-general (Operations), Datuk Dr Abdul Gapar Abu Bakar, said every application submitted through the State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) would be comprehensively assessed before any operations are conducted.

"We will consider every application. For example, if Perlis submits a request, and Kedah is facing the same issue at the same time, then we will conduct the operation simultaneously. Normally, if there is any application, we will conduct the operation,” he told Bernama.

He said this while participating in cloud-seeding operations over areas in Melaka and Johor yesterday using Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) C-130 Hercules aircraft.

Others who took part in the flight for the cloud-seeding operation were Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) deputy director-general (Operations) Ambun Dindang and Bernama representatives. It was part of cloud-seeding operations involving Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Johor since Monday.

Abdul Gapar said that over the past three years, NADMA, together with relevant agencies such as MetMalaysia, RMAF, Public Works Department and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, had conducted 21 cloud-seeding operations nationwide.

Of the total, 11 were conducted in 2024, one in 2025 and nine this year, involving several main dams, including the Bukit Merah Dam in Perak, the Muda Dam in Kedah, the Machap Dam in Johor and the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis.

"Alhamdulillah, I can say that we managed to produce rain through every operation, and helped bring the water levels of the dams back to normal,” he said.

For upcoming operations, he said NADMA has received preliminary information on the need for cloud-seeding operations in Sabah and Sarawak, as several areas are beginning to experience dry weather.

He said the hot and dry weather is expected to persist until either May or June, following the monsoon transition from the Northeast Monsoon, which ended in March, to the Southwest Monsoon.

Meanwhile, Ambun said the cloud-seeding operation's success depends on three key atmospheric factors: the presence of towering cumulus clouds, weak winds from various directions and high atmospheric moisture content.

"Most important is the presence of towering cumulus clouds because that's where we will disperse the salt solutions that will, hopefully, lead to rainfall in the dam areas,” he said.

He added that the cloud-seeding operation uses the technique of spraying salt solutions prepared in four tanks with a total capacity of 6,000 litres, and the OPA takes between eight and nine hours, starting with solution preparation, crew briefing, flight to the target location and dispersing the solution at an altitude of between 5,200 feet and 7,000 feet.

He said the effects of water droplets forming in the clouds could be seen as early as 30 to 60 minutes after spraying, with rain expected within one to two hours, and a success rate of 80 per cent.

However, Ambun admitted that the operation faced major challenges, especially in identifying suitable clouds during hot weather, as well as sudden changes in wind direction that could cause rain to stray from the target area.

He also dispelled confusion about the use of hazardous chemicals in the operation, stressing that it merely mimics the natural process of salt molecule condensation from the sea to land, and uses only normal salt solution.

"We just want to add more salt solution so that it rains faster in the target areas. That's all. It is not dangerous because the salt we use is the type that we use in our food daily,” he said.

-- BERNAMA