KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning, forecasting heavy rain and strong winds across several states and federal territories until 9 pm today.
Issued at 5:50 pm, the alert covers the entire Klang Valley, including Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Putrajaya, alongside Penang.
Up north, the warning extends to Kedah (Sik, Kuala Muda, Baling, Kulim, and Bandar Baharu). Meanwhile, Perak is set to take a battering, with alerts plastered across Kerian, Selama, Larut Matang, Manjung, Bagan Datuk, Perak Tengah, Hilir Perak, Kampar, Kinta, and Kuala Kangsar.
Over in East Malaysia, Sarawak’s Limbang division is on high alert. In Sabah, the stormy weather targets the interior divisions of Sipitang, Tenom, and Pensiangan, sweeping across to the Sandakan division, which includes Tongod, Labuk, Sugut, and Kinabatangan.
The national weather bureau triggers these short-term alerts when radar detects imminent thunderstorms with rainfall intensity expected to exceed 20 millimetres per hour. These warnings are highly specific and valid for a maximum of six hours.
Residents in the affected zones should stay indoors, avoid parking in low-lying areas prone to flash floods, and steer clear of open spaces. Keep an eye on MetMalaysia’s official channels for real-time updates as the evening progresses.