The Winter Rainfall of Malaysia

AbstractMalaysia is geographically separated into Peninsular Malaysia and west Borneo. The rainfall maximum in the former region occurs during November–December, whereas that in the latter region occurs during December–February. This difference of maximum rainfall period indicates that the formation mechanism is different for the rainfall centers in these two parts of Malaysia. Since rainfall is primarily produced by severe weather systems, the formation of a climatological rainfall center is explored through synoptic activity and the rainfall amount of this center is estimated through contributions by rain-producing disturbances. The major cause of the rainfall maximum of Peninsular Malaysia is cold surge vortices (CSVs) and heavy rainfall/flood (HRF) events propagating from the Philippine area and Borneo. In contrast, the major cause of the rainfall maximum of Borneo is these rain-producing disturbances trapped in Borneo. Disturbances of the former group are formed by the cold surge flows of the Philipp...