KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) has issued a first category warning saying that strong northeasterly winds of 40-50kmph with waves up to 3.5metres high are expected to occur over the waters off Sabah, particularly on the West Coast and Kudat for the next five days, starting today (March 16).
The advisory states that other areas likely to be affected by these weather conditions during the same period are the Federal Territory of Labuan, Reef North, Layang-Layang and Palawan.
“This condition of strong winds and rough seas is dangerous to small crafts, recreational sea activities and sea sports,” it says.
However, a spokesman of the department here clarified yesterday that the expected strong winds and rough seas for the next few days are due to the effects of the northeast monsoon that is coming to a close this month.
He clarified that these weather conditions are not linked to the earthquakes and tsunami that occurred in Japan last weekend.
Meanwhile, MMD’s official website has reported that a moderate earthquake at 5.1 on the Richter’s scale had occurred at the West Irian region at 1.32pm yesterday (March 15), some 400km from southeast of Ambon in Indonesia and 1,774km southeast of Tawau in Sabah.