PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has announced that the dry season will continue until the beginning of May 2024. It noted that this year’s dry season will be a drastic departure from previous years with hotter days maxing out around 41 degrees Celsius (106 degrees Fahrenheit).

On January 12, the Ministry confirmed that the temperatures during the dry season fluctuate sharply with high temperatures above average. While last year’s hottest day was 37 degrees Celsius, this year temperatures are expected to hit 41 degrees. Globally, 2023 was the hottest year on record and climate change shows no sign of returning to former weather patterns.

The Ministry said that this year’s monsoon season is likely to be light and come even later than last year. It said that thunderstorms and high winds will be more common in April and May 2024.

The Ministry called on all stakeholders and the public to work together to conserve water resources, especially in remote rural areas far from water sources.