Malaysia: Met Dept issues "most dangerous" warning for east coast states

The Star 28 Dec 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong winds and rough seas classified as third category (most dangerous) are expected until Tuesday in the coastal areas of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.

The Meteorological Department said strong north-easterly winds at speeds of 60kmph may cause waves measuring over 5.5 metres.

Coastal areas in the affected states can expect increased water levels to last until next Tuesday.

These conditions are dangerous to all beach and shipping activities including fishing, work on oil platforms and ferry services.

Strong winds, rough seas to hit coasts
The Star 29 Dec 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: Strong winds and rough seas classified as third category (most dangerous) in the coastal areas of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor Timur are expected until next Tuesday.

A statement from the Meteorological Department said strong north-easterly winds at speeds of 60kmph may cause waves measuring over 5.5m.

Coastal areas in the affected states are also prone to increased water levels expected to last until next Tuesday.

These conditions are dangerous to all beach and shipping activities which include fishing, work on oil platforms and ferry services.

The statement said that thunderstorms in the coasts of Sarawak (Mukah, Bintulu and Miri) had also been expected to continue until late last night. — Bernama

More floods to come in Kota Kinabalu
Muguntan Vanar The Star 28 Dec 13;

KOTA KINABALU: Heavy rain that coincides with high tides will remain a recipe for flooding in low-lying areas of the city and its greater areas for at least a year to come.

Flash floods lasting several hours continue to be experienced in many low-lying areas around the city as heavy rainfall over the last three weeks came at the same time as the incoming or high tide.

Under high tide conditions, water from rivers cannot flow out to the sea quickly.

According to officials, there was nothing much the authorities could do under these circumstances except to wait for the completion of two flood mitigation schemes, which are expected to be ready in about 18 months.

According to Luyang assemblyman Hiew King Chew, the Federal Government had already approved RM50mil in funding in order to set up two tidal gates in Sembulan and Kapayan here.

He said the project would be implemented by the Drainage and Irrigation Department.

“The project will include a pump house in order to pump out water from inland areas when heavy rains come during high tides,” he said.

Hiew added that the flood mitigation scheme would also help to resolve flooding problems faced in the Luyang, Kapayan and Lido areas.

“I have been informed that they will be starting work by early next year,” he said in response to public complaints over the alleged “inaction” by the Kota Kinabalu City Hall to resolve the flood problem.

Incessant rain on Thursday saw many low-lying areas here, including main roads, flooded for several hours.

However, some felt that the Kota Kinabalu City Hall should be more proactive in cleaning up drains, and should take firm action against contractors whose projects were damaging or blocking up drains.

Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Abdidin Madangkir and the city’s director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai could not be reached for comment on the matter, while meteorologists have forecast wet weather to continue until next year.

Thunderstorms, strong winds, high waves to continue in coastal areas
The Star 27 Dec 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: Thunderstorms in the coastal areas of Sarawak, Labuan, and Sabah's west coast are expected to continue until late Friday.

In a statement, the Meteorological Department said the thunderstorms could cause strong winds of 50 to 60kmph and choppy seas, with waves of up to 4.5m.

Thunderstorms with winds of up to 50kmph and waves of up to 3.5m are also expected to continue until late in the evening in the coastal areas of Selangor and Sandakan in Sabah.

Meanwhile, strong winds and choppy seas in the coasts of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor Timur, Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak are expected until Tuesday.

Strong northeasterly winds with speeds of 60kmph were also reported in the coasts of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, East Johor, Samui, Tioman, Bunguran, Condore, Palawan, Reef North and Layang-Layang, as well as waves exceeding 5.5m.

Coastal areas in these states are also exposed to a rise in water levels and this is expected to continue until Tuesday.

These situations pose a danger to all beach and shipping activities, including fishing, activities on oil platforms and ferry services. - Bernama

Strong winds and rough seas ahead
The Star 27 Dec 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Meteorological Department has forecast strong winds and rough seas up to Tuesday in the waters off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, eastern Johor, Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak.

It said in a statement that strong north-easterly winds of up to 60kph were expected in the waters off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and eastern Johor and the waves there were expected to rise to more than 5.5m.

It also said that the coastal areas in these states would be exposed to a rise in the sea level up to Tuesday. Strong north-easterly winds of between 50kph and 60kph were expected in the waters off the Pedalaman, West Coast and Kudat divisions of Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak, with waves rising up to 4.5m, it said.

The winds and waves could pose a danger to all coastal activities and shipping. — Bernama