FOUR Sabah districts may be issued with the Level 1 alert for heatwave if the dry spell continues until tomorrow, said the state Meteorological Department. 

Its director, Azemi Daud, said Kota Marudu, Tongod, Sandakan and Beaufort had recorded the highest temperatures since July 30.

“Kota Kinabalu, Keningau and Sandakan have registered 35°C, while Kudat and Tawau, 34°C, over the last three days,” he told The Malaysian Insight today.

The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry’s technical committee on tackling El-Nino and dry weather had, on March 22, set the Level 1 alert for heatwave at between 35°C and 37°C.

Sabah recorded an average of 34°C last month.

“While 35°C is still considered safe and normal, the department will issue the Level 1 alert if the temperature remains unchanged or rises for three days in a row, beginning yesterday,” said Azemi.

He said the current dry spell in the state was due to Typhoon Noru, which was wreaking havoc in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.

“Noru was upgraded into a supertyphoon today as it hovers over the eastern side of Taiwan, but the storm is expected to recede as it heads towards mainland China.”

He said normal weather was expected in Sabah once Noru weakened, which would allow the eastern wind to blow above the state beginning August 6. – August 2, 2017.