The initial two months of the Northeast monsoon – December and January – will mark the peak of the rainy season, acting chief meteorological officer Mohammad Affindi bin Haji Sabli said.
He said these months will witness the highest rainfall and rainy days, characterised by unsettled weather conditions with intermittent heavy showers or thundershowers, particularly during the night until early morning.
“In contrast, the latter half of the northeast monsoon – February and March – tends to exhibit more stable atmospheric conditions with reduced rainfall activities,” Mohammad Affindi told a briefing, covering the northeast monsoon, expected to persist until March 2024.
Based on climatological data, the average rainfall amount and rain days for the period of December until February with the seasonal outlook was shared during the briefing yesterday.
“In December, the average rainfall is 358.9 millimetres (mm). We anticipate 320.6mm of rainfall over 18 rainy days, with a slightly below normal seasonal outlook.
“We expect a lower amount of rainfall (162.9mm) in February over 12 rainy days with a below-normal seasonal outlook.
“March will have the lowest rainfall, at 143.4mm, over an average of 13 rainy days with a below-normal seasonal outlook.”
Meanwhile, research and development officer Zulfah Zuhairah binti Abdul Rani highlighted the current El Niño conditions in the region.
“The Sultanate is anticipating suppressed rainfall and increased air temperatures.
Hotter and drier weather conditions are likely during the peak of the El Niño event around early 2024, particularly in February and March, the two driest months.
“The public is strongly advised to take precautionary measures during the active weather conditions forecast for the rainy season, as well as the drier weather conditions in February and March next year.”
Seventy-four people attended the national weather briefing at the Auditorium of the Information Department. It was organised by The Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department. – Fadley Faisal
