Kuala Krai blankets
© BERNAMApixUnusual Weather: Kuala Krai Hospital ensures patients have enough blankets
It may seem unusual but people in this Kelantan town have been putting on sweaters this week. The reason: the mercury is showing 17o Celsius!

A check by Bernama at the Kuala Krai Lake Gardens and the Cinta Wangsa Park, a popular workout spot, found that people were turning up later than usual because of thick mist.

Civil servant Mohd Baihaqi Che Man, 28, said he now heads to the park an hour later than usual, at 8am, to exercise.

"The cold weather caused a thick mist to envelop the area and visibility is reduced. I also had to put on three layers of clothing, including a sweater, because the weather is colder than it was last week."

Teacher Abd Aziz Daud, 42, from Sungai Pas here, said the cold was unusual and some pupils and teachers started wearing sweaters to school.

"It is also cold in the evenings. However, pupils are still turning up for school."

Civil servant Norazita Ismail, 36, from Guchil 3, said she started taking hot baths before going to work.

"I dread the cold water. It is too cold, like touching ice. Fortunately, we are able to start our cars in the morning. The town is shrouded in mist even at 9.30am," she said.

The Meteorological Department reported last Wednesday that the temperature hit 17.2oC, the second coldest area after Cameron Highlands in Pahang at 12oC.

The mercury showed a minimum of 19.1oC and a maximum of 29.2oC here yesterday.

In Kota Baru, it was between 21oC and 27.9oC.

Management at the district hospital here began increasing its stock of blankets at all the wards to make sure patients were kept warm.

Assistant director (administration) Intan Shahrizat Mohd Nasir said the move was taken after they received information on the change in the weather pattern from the Meteorological Department.

She said the additional blankets sent to the wards depended on patients' needs.

"It is normal for us here to experience low temperatures in January and February every year but some of our patients feel uncomfortable at night.

"Therefore, we had asked our supplier to send more blankets."

A cold air surge from mainland China moving southwards to the South China Sea, a phenomenon usually associated with the North-East Monsoon, had been cited as the cause of the chilly conditions.