Malaysia expects to see warmer-than-usual weather and reduced rainfall in the first quarter of 2016 due to the El Nino weather pattern, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry said yesterday.

The El Nino is a dry weather phenomenon that leads to scorching weather across Asia and east Africa, but heavy rain and floods in South America.

“The strong El Nino phenomenon is expected to reduce total rainfall by 20 to 60 percent and increase temperatures by 0.5 to 2 degree Celcius,” the ministry said in a statement.

El Nino weather effects are already seen in the northern peninsular Malaysian states of Perlis and Kedah, and are expected to spread to the rest of peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia from end-January to March, the ministry said.

- Bernama