‘Super’ El Niño Could Exceed 40.1ºC in Malaysia Next Year

By Danial Martinus • 21 Jul 2026 in News

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(source: Joshua Kettle / Unsplash & jcomp / Magnific)

Malaysians will have to brace for record temperatures next year, with forecasts exceeding Malaysia’s current temperature record of 40.1ºC, thanks to a “Super” El Niño event.

If you’re not familiar with the term, El Niño (or “Super” El Niño in this case) is a natural weather cycle phenomenon in which strong trade winds blow from east to west along the equator, which then raises the surface temperature of the eastern Pacific Ocean, pushing those waters towards Asia and Australia.

This ends up raising the air temperature, thus resulting in potential droughts, heatwaves, and even wildfires.

Brace for the heat

According to METMalaysia Director-General Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, El Niño is forecast to peak between March and May 2027, with maximum temperatures expected to exceed 40.1ºC, which is the local record set in Chuping, Perlis back in 1998.

Since the 1980s, Malaysia’s average temperatures have been steadily climbing, and the highest peaks are often recorded during “Super” El Niño events.

“So based on this data, we can expect it’s going to be another big spike,” he told Reuters, pointing to global warming as a contributor to the rising heat. But what does this mean for the country as a whole?

You can expect much lower rainfall and higher temperatures throughout the nation, with the northern areas of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, taking the biggest hit.

What can you do, as an everyday Malaysian, to prepare for the effects of El Niño? One of the most important things is to have a steady emergency water supply (for drinking, cleaning, bathing), especially with the threat of droughts and heatwaves that come with the phenomenon.

You could also service your air conditioners earlier to prevent unpleasant surprises on a particularly hot day, and keep miniature fans handy when you’re out and about.