The Malaysian Insight

HEAVY rain and thunderstorms in the inter-monsoon season, to begin from March 14 until May, have the potential to cause flooding again in parts of the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said today.

Areas affected will be on the west coast and interior of the peninsula, the western parts of Sabah as well as western and central Sarawak, the department said in a statement.

The inter-monsoon season marks the end of northeast monsoon, which started since November 3 last year.

Starting on March 14, it is expected to continue until May, with rainfall predicted in the evenings.

“During this monsoon transition phase, parts of the country receive weak wind gusts from a various directions that are conducive for creating thunderstorms with heavy rain as well as strong winds in a short period of time.

“These incidents will especially occur in the evening and early nights.”

“These weather conditions have the potential to cause flooding and damage to unstable structures,” the department said.

It advised people to vigilant during this period.

On Monday, a downpour caused flash floods in several parts of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

It was later described by Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as rainfall of “half a month’s average in two hours”.

Within the city centre, among the affected areas were the Tabung Haji tunnel, Jalan Chan Sow Lin tunnel, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Sri Permaisuri Jalan Tun Razak. Outlying areas affected included Kuchai Lama and Jalan Klang Lama.

Seven rivers in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor were reported to have exceeded their danger level following the heavy rain.

Viral photos showed cars stuck on flooded roads and water levels rising in car parks. 

Several states experienced worst flooding in mid-December following two to three days of unusually heavy rain, which displaced more than 70,000 people at the height of floods, and killed 54. – March 11, 2022.