The Star 26 nov 17;
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued severe warning alert for the east coast states, predicting continuous rain and a wet weekend.
According to the department’s Facebook page, parts of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang will experience heavy rain until today.
“Heavy rain is expected to persist in Kelantan (Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang as well as Terengganu,” it said in a statement.
The northeast monsoon, which started on Nov 13, is expected to last until March.
The department also issued a bad weather warning in Pahang and Johor.
MetMalaysia: Heavy rain expected to hit east coast until Sunday
razak ahmad The Star 23 Nov 17;
PETALING JAYA: Continuous heavy rain brought by the northeast monsoon will hit the east coast of the peninsula from today, according to a forecast.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a yellow alert weather warning for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor.
“Continuous heavy rain is expected to occur over the states,” read the alert, adding it would go on until Sunday.
The northeast monsoon, which started on Nov 13, is expected to last until March.
MetMalaysia is expecting between four and five episodes of continuous heavy rain during the monsoon.
A yellow alert means heavy rain is expected within the next one to three days. And if there is continuous rain, it will not last for more than six hours and the rainfall will be less than 60mm.
An orange alert indicates continuous heavy rain that will exceed six hours and rainfall collection of at least 60mm. A red alert signifies continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day.
On Tuesday, MetMalaysia issued a First Category warning of strong winds and rough sea conditions, both of which are dangerous to small boats.
It said that northeastern winds of between 40kph and 50kph, along with waves as high as 3.5m, were expected in the sea off Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, east Johor, Sarawak, Labuan and parts of Sabah from today until Monday.
“The strong winds and rough sea conditions are dangerous to small boats, sea sports and recreational activities,” MetMalaysia said.
Bad weather on the east coast until year end
FAISAL ASYRAF New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;
KUALA LUMPUR: People in the east coast have been told to brace for floods, as heavy rain brought by the monsoon weather is expected to persist until year end.
Meteorological Department director-general Alui Bahar said if the downpour continues for more than three consecutive days, floods would inevitably occur in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, as well as Johor.
“The department is not expecting a severe floods situation like last year, as the weather, this year is not influenced by phenomena such as El Nino and La Nina.
“Nonetheless, if the rainfall continues for more than three days in a row, or even between close intervals, it is likely that some districts will be flooded,” he said when contacted by the New Straits Times.
He said severe thunderstorm warning has been issued in several districts in Kelantan including Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, and Gua Musang.
Other districts on alert include Pahang (Jerantut, Kuantan, Pekan, Rompin, Temerloh and Maran), Mersing and Kota Tinggi in Johor; as well as Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, and Pokok Sena in Kedah.
However, Alui said weather would improve by January, but torrential rain would soon make its way to Sabah and Sarawak.
He advised the public to install the mobile application myCuaca to keep tabs on the weather forecast or follow the department's Twitter account @malaysianmet.
The public can visit the department’s website www.met.gov.my, or contact via text message at 15888, or call the 1300 22 1638 hotline.
The annual east coast monsoon season, originating in the Pacific Ocean, generally runs from mid-October to late March.
Last year, at least 1200 people in Kelantan were evacuated to flood centres after their homes were inundated with flood waters, which was believed to have worsened by the logging and land-clearing activities.
In 2014, at least 20,000 were moved to be relief shelters after the flood worsened in Kelantan, which was the worst the country has ever seen in almost half a century.
