Malaysia: ‘Brace for heavier downpours’

ADRIAN CHAN The Star 22 Nov 16;

PETALING JAYA: Downpours along the west coast will get worse, with about 1,000mm of rain to be recorded this month alone.

In comparison, the total amount of rainfall in the west coast between January and now was 1,200mm.

The Meteorological Department (known also as MetMalaysia) gave this warning to the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), asking it to prepare for a deluge.

Areas that will be affected were Penang, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and northern Selangor, it said.

DID director-general Datuk Seri Zulkefli Hassan said the department was making more preparations for heavier, more frequent downpours and flash floods.

“It is expected that localised rain will continue to fall along the west coast, with higher intensity and within a short period of time (until November ends),” he said.

For the east coast, he said, staggered rainfall was expected and the department was looking to MetMalaysia for accurate predictions.

He said based on records of long-term average rainfall, more rain would likely fall there on the last week of this month and the second week of December.

Zulkefli added that MetMalaysia had yet to detect the cold surge associated with the northeast monsoon along the east coast of the peninsula.

The surge, which is characterised by cold winds that bring rain, has yet to be detected, meaning rainfall has yet to reach its peak along the coast, he said.

On Sunday, the department had issued a warning of heavy rain and overflowing rivers in Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor and Perlis.

For warnings and updates on water levels and flood situations, go to http://publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my/.