KOTA BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK- Residents of Kelantan are feeling a chill, with the temperature falling to 16 degrees C in some areas in recent days.

This is caused by the north-east monsoon blowing from mainland China, originating from Siberia's frozen region.

Malaysia Meteorological Department director-general Alui Bahari said on Sunday that temperatures dropped to as low as 16 degrees C in Kuala Krai in central Kelantan.

From Feb 9 to 11, some other districts, namely Machang, Pasir Mas and Tanah Merah, also experienced a drop in daily temperatures, he said.

"But this is not the lowest recorded in Kelantan. The lowest was recorded at 15.7 deg C on Feb 3, 2014", he said in response to the chill felt by folks in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai over the past few days.

These low temperatures in Malaysia are usually recorded in the east coast states, in inland Kedah and northern Perak in February.

The current cold snap, especially in Kuala Krai and Gua Musang, is also the result of less cloudy skies. These districts are near the foot of Cameron Highlands in central Malaysia.

Mr Alui said when the skies are cloudy, more heat from the surface of the earth would be released to the atmosphere.

He said temperatures have increased to 20ºC on Monday in these Kelantan districts.

The secretary of Kampung Budi Voluntary Patrol Scheme in Kuala Krai, Mohd Zahari Hasan, said they were "chilled to the bone" as the temperatures dropped to as low as 16 deg C on Sunday.

"We have to sit around a campfire to warm ourselves up, and wear thick clothing," he said.

Mr Rohaizad Che Soh of Gua Musang district called on motorists crossing the temporary bridge in Pulau Setelu to be extra cautious.

"Visibility has been greatly reduced by fog," he said. "At times, the cold wind blows even on a sunny day."