Forecast for the week – thunderstorms and heavy rain

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians should continue to be on guard as heavy rains are expected in the peninsula this week.

Thunderstorms and rains are expected in most states until Saturday.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) flood information website (http://publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my) earlier sent out warnings to residents of Kampung Olak Sepam in Muar and Penarik in Ledang, both in Johor, after rivers in both areas surpassed the danger level.

The river in Kampung Olak Sepam hit the danger level of 2.42m at 8.30am and rose to as high as 3m yesterday.

The river level in Penarik hit the danger level of 2.39m late Saturday and only started to subside around 3am yesterday.

The DID, however, did not issue any flood warnings on its website yesterday.

Last week, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicated that more than 500mm of rain was expected for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor until the end of the year.

The rainfall, according to MetMalaysia, is typical for this time of year due to the north-east monsoon.

MetMalaysia’s weather forecast indicated that Perlis, Kedah, Penang and north Perak would receive lower than normal rainfall (less than 150mm) between January and February next year.

Other areas in the peninsula are forecast to receive normal rainfall of between 100mm and 300mm.

Between March and April next year, all states are expected to receive normal rainfall of between 100mm and 350mm.

National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Zaitun Ab Samad said the high tide in December was not expected to be as serious as in October.

On Nadma’s flood preparations, Zaitun said the agency was always ready to coordinate all forms of assistance to affected residents.

“There are so many departments and agencies involved and there are also many NGOs wanting to help. Nadma is the agency that gets everybody together. We consolidate and coordinate,” she said.

Among efforts that were undertaken in cooperation with other agencies was the preparation of sandbags as a temporary measure to withstand high tides, Zaitun said.