The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) has upgraded the disturbance system “Invest 95B,” which previously affected much of western and northern Peninsular Malaysia, into a tropical cyclone, officially designating it as Tropical Cyclone 04B.
According to the JTWC’s tracking map, Tropical Cyclone 04B is currently located north of the Strait of Malacca, near the skies above Sumatra. International meteorological platforms have described this as potentially the first tropical cyclone to form in the Strait of Malacca.
However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified the system only as a tropical depression (TD). Despite the JTWC’s alert, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has yet to issue an official statement regarding the system.
MetMalaysia confirmed that it is closely monitoring the low-pressure system’s movement. As the area falls under the IMD’s observational jurisdiction, Malaysia follows reports issued by India.
“We are keeping a close watch on the low-pressure system north of the Strait of Malacca,” said a MetMalaysia spokesperson.
In the meantime, MetMalaysia issued a low-pressure system advisory last night, warning that the system north of the Strait of Malacca has a high chance of developing into a tropical cyclone. The system could bring prolonged heavy rain, strong winds, and rough sea conditions to northern states of Peninsular Malaysia.
International meteorological agencies are actively tracking the path of Tropical Cyclone 04B. Some forecasts indicate it may move toward Aceh, Indonesia, while others warn that the tropical depression TD33W in the South China Sea could interact with the system, potentially pushing it back into the Strait of Malacca.
The public is urged to stay updated with the latest weather advisories from MetMalaysia.
