KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued an evening thunderstorm warning across large swathes of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak until 8.00pm today, a day after torrential downpours triggered widespread flash floods across the Klang Valley.
The weather alert, released at 4.10pm, warns of severe thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and gusty winds, placing commuters and low-lying neighbourhoods on high alert following Monday’s evening travel chaos.
In the peninsula, the advisory blankets the entirety of Perlis and Kedah, alongside all three mainland districts of Penang: Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah, and Seberang Perai Selatan. Perak faces widespread disruption spanning 12 districts, including Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Kampar, Muallim, Batang Padang, Larut Matang, Selama, Kerian, Perak Tengah, Hilir Perak, and Bagan Datuk.
Across Selangor, the advisory covers Hulu Selangor, Sabak Bernam, and Kuala Selangor, alongside Petaling and Klang, two major urban districts where drainage systems were inundated during Monday’s deluge.
In the south, the alert spans Batu Pahat, Muar, Tangkak, and Kluang in Johor.
East coast states are similarly braced for stormy weather. Kelantan faces downpours across Kuala Krai, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Machang, Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Pasir Puteh, and Bachok. In Terengganu, the alert covers Besut, Hulu Terengganu, Setiu, and Dungun.
Across East Malaysia, the warning covers multiple divisions in Sarawak, including Lubok Antu in Sri Aman, Sarikei, Betong, Tanjung Manis in Mukah, Asajaya and Sebuyau in Samarahan, Marudi and Telang Usan in Miri, and Belaga in Kapit. In Sabah, the bulletin spans Ranau, Papar, Penampang, Tuaran, and Kota Kinabalu along the West Coast, alongside Tambunan, Membakut, Pensiangan, and Keningau in the Interior, Kalabakan in Tawau, and Tongod in Sandakan.
MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm advisories when satellite and radar indicators track rainfall intensity exceeding 20mm per hour that is either imminent or expected to persist beyond an hour. The department noted that these warnings serve as short-term alerts, valid for a maximum of six hours from issuance.
The alert follows Monday’s cloudburst that inundated arterial roads, submerged vehicles, and crippled the evening commute across the Klang Valley.
With ground saturation still high, authorities have urged motorists and residents in flood-prone zones to monitor real-time weather updates.