A flash flood warning has been issued by Malaysia’s Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) for six states: Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Penang, Perak, and Negri Sembilan.
The South-East Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance System, the DID flood forecast model, and the Meteorological Department’s (MetMalaysia) forecasts served as the foundation for the warning.
According to Mohd Fazil Ismail, director of corporate communications and consumer affairs for the National Water Services Commission, the majority of the dams in Peninsular Malaysia have reached their maximum level.
But things are under control and as of yesterday at 1 pm, no water treatment plant closures were noted in flooded areas.
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“In total, there are 57 dams and of these, 47 are major dams (relating to raw water sources) in Peninsular Malaysia. The majority of dams have reached their maximum storage level. The other 10 are multi-functional dams such as for flood mitigation for dams regulated by the DID,” Ismail said.
Recall that MetMalaysia had warned that the monsoon is predicted to bring about continuous rain in the east coast states of the peninsula for four days starting Dec 17.
Director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah, the northeast monsoon and the La Nina cycle will cause the rainy weather to persist till the beginning of next year.
For Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang, MetMalaysia has also issued a Category 1 warning, which is anticipated to remain till tomorrow and describes strong gusts and choppy seas.
Within the following few days, the west coast of the peninsula, west Sabah, and north Sarawak is also predicted to see thunderstorms with heavy rain and strong gusts in the late afternoon and early hours of the morning.
This story was adapted from Strait times.
