A longer pre-monsoon period will be characterized by higher than average temperatures, thunderstorms, strong winds and heavy rains. In media, daytime temperatures in May in certain parts of the country will be higher by 1.5 degrees Celsius. It mostly refers to southern Sagaing, Mandalay, Magwe, Bago and Yangon regions, while northern Sagaing, Ayeyarwady, Tanintharyi, Kachin, Shan, Chin, Rakhine, Kayah, Kayin and Mon states and regions will see normal temperatures for this period.
While it is not an El Nino year, a statement released by the International Observatory for Pacific Ocean Sea Surface Temperatures informs that there is a very high chance (about 80 percent) that El Nino will form between May to June, and a slightly lower (62 percent) chance that it will happen in September. It is explained by the extremely dry weather the country experienced during the summer. This year, temperature record highs were reached in several areas and regions of Myanmar, including Yangon which was scorchingly hot in April.
In 2016, when a strong El Nino hit the country, Chauk, Sagaing, Taungdwingyi, Yamethin, Meiktila, Kyaukse, Heho, and Mogok had record highs.
Myanmar Gets Ready for Monsoon Season
News in Asia
Southern Myanmar is expecting the arrival of the annual monsoon. It will hit the southern parts of the country between today and next Thursday. The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology of Myanmar informed that to the rest of the country the monsoon will come later than usually.