By Dr. Kyaw Moe Oo, Director General, Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, Myanmar

The climate of Myanmar is influenced by tropical monsoon winds, which are the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. Myanmar has three distinct season, the rainy season, the cold (or) winter season and the summer season. In the Union of the President of Myanmar the observations indicated that the climate change is taking place in the field of temperature, precipitation, extreme climate and severity of disasters and in the southwest monsoon features.

Regarding temperature, the mean maximum temperature is increasing. Extreme temperature events are increasing both frequency and intensity associated with intensity of El Nino. In Myanmar the temperature generally vary between 10°C and 32 °C with the average mean temperature of 21°C in the northern low lands, sinking sometime to -1 °C or 0 °C in the high lands and 32°C in the coastal area. During the hot season, temperature sometimes reach 40°C and over in central dry zone. The southwest monsoon onset into the country is becoming late and its withdrawal from the country is advancing earlier. The southwest monsoon duration is shortened by three weeks from the northern Myanmar and one week from other parts compared to normal.

Meteorological, Hydrological and Climatic Extremes events are becoming more frequent around the world, especially the small Island and developing countries, due to climate change. According to the statements of the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 was the warmest year in the 175-year observational record. It is recorded that rising temperatures are causing the oceans to warm, glaciers and ice sheets to melt, and global sea levels are set to reach a record high in 2024, according to records from 1955 to the present. Myanmar also experienced extreme heat in 2024, setting a new record for the highest temperature (78 times), with Chauk, Magway Region, reaching (reached to) 48.2C, the highest temperature in that city in 56 years. It was also the highest temperature in Myanmar’s history, including the entire country, and was included in the list of the hottest countries in the world.

In Myanmar, rapid and coordinated responses to early warnings for natural disasters such as storms, floods or droughts can help in preventing the loss of lives and properties due to natural disasters. We are highly grateful to India Meteorological Department for its full support to Myanmar’s endeavours in disaster risk reduction and Early Warning System. IMD played pivotal role in promoting coherence between various sectors, communities and forecasters for DRR by revising IMD’s standard operating procedures (SOP) for cyclone warning, updating annual cyclone operational plan for WMO ESCAP Panel countries and developing synergised SOPs for multi-hazard early warning across India and North Indian Ocean region, which has been ground-breaking. IMD organised trainings for forecasters in South & Southeast Asia and Middle-East countries and stakeholders including fishermen, farmers, and disaster managers, to ensure coherent utilisation of cyclone warning for DRR. Disaster reduction activities of DMH was not accomplished without valuable support and close cooperation with WMO and its Regional office, RSMC (New Delhi), RTHs for the early warning, training and other support for Myanmar.

Not only to Local, the global climate has also changed in a very dramatic manner. The vulnerability to disasters are increasing more than ever. We can’t prevent hazards from happening. We may need to more cooperation and collaboration national, regional and global for Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction activities.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.