KUALA LUMPUR (March 25): The hot and dry weather that is happening in most areas across the country is expected to gradually recover by mid-April.

Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said this follows the beginning of the monsoon transition phase, which is expected to start from March 29 and continue until May, marking the end of the Northeast Monsoon, which began since Nov 11 last year.

"During the transition phase of the monsoon, the country will receive weak winds from various directions, which are conducive for the occurrence of thunderstorms that usually bring heavy rain and strong winds in a short period of time.

"This incident happens mainly in the evening and early night in most areas in the west and interior of the peninsula, west Sabah, and south and central Sarawak," he said in a statement on Monday.

He said that weather conditions have the potential to cause flash floods, fallen trees and damage to structures that are not strong.

Therefore, he advised the public to be more vigilant during the period and be aware of weather forecasts and warnings issued by MetMalaysia through the official website, myCuaca mobile application and MetMalaysia's official social media.

The public can also contact the MetMalaysia hotline at 1-300-22-1638 for any further enquiries, he said.

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