Kuala lumpur: Cloud seeding operations launched yesterday are starting to yield results, with water levels at dams in Perlis and Kedah seeing slight rises, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the Central Disaster Management Committee, highlighted that weather radar data indicated rain began at 3.30 pm over the Muda Dam in Kedah, then became more widespread and persistent across targeted areas in Kedah and Perlis between 6 pm and 8 pm.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the conditions brought rainfall ranging from 29.8mm to 34.7mm in Perlis and from 9.3mm to 30.9mm in Kedah between 7 pm and 8 pm. A report from the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) recorded 13.5mm of rain at Pedu station, 6.0mm to 49.0mm at Muda station, and 2.0mm to 4.0mm in Ahning, all in Kedah.
On its second day today, operations are focusing on the Pedu Dam in Kedah and Timah Tasoh in Perlis, both affected by unusually hot conditions, to boost water levels for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use. Ahmad Zahid spoke to reporters after overseeing the coordination of cloud seeding operations by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) for Kedah and Perlis at Subang Air Base.
He noted that with extreme hot weather expected to continue until the end of the month before easing in June, operations will carry on until April 10, with wind and cloud movements monitored to ensure rainfall over the targeted areas. The operations, carried out with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, are also set to expand to Perak and Johor, which are facing dry conditions and peatland fires.
Ahmad Zahid mentioned that the focus will be on the Temenggor and Bukit Merah dams in Perak, and on the Lebam, Upper Layang, Lower Layang, Gunung Pulai, and Machap dams in Johor. He explained that for this operation, the technical team from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) used 200 kg of salt (sodium chloride) dissolved in 1,500 litres of water per tank, with four saltwater tanks loaded onto a TUDM C-130 Hercules and flown at 5,000-9,000 feet to disperse into cumulus clouds over the targeted areas.
The saltwater accelerates raindrop formation, with rain typically falling 30 to 60 minutes after cloud seeding. In a related update, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said fire hotspots remain few and under control, with just one reported in Selangor and a handful in Johor.