Getting soaked on CNY

Blocked path: Residents at Kampung Pengkalan near Alor Gajah were left stranded due to flash floods.

PETALING JAYA: The Year of the Fire Monkey is off to a wet start with the weatherman predicting isolated rainfall and thunderstorms in many parts of Malaysia on the first day of Chinese New Year.

Despite the fire element in the Chinese zodiac sign, the nation looks set to experience cooling weather from the rain instead of warm sunshine.

According to the weather forecast by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia), Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, east Johor and several divisions in Kudat and Sandakan in Sabah will experience isolated rainfall over the coastal areas in the morning of Chinese New Year tomorrow.

Isolated thunderstorms are expected to hit Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Malacca, Johor, Pahang and divisions of Interior and west coast of Sabah during the afternoon.

Similar weather will continue on the second day of the Lunar New Year with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon expected in Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, divisions in Kuching, Samarahan, Betong, Sarikei and Limbang in Sarawak, as well as divisions of Interior and west coast of Sabah.

MetMalaysia director-general Datuk Che Gayah Ismail said there could be flash floods if the thunderstorms were severe, especially if coupled by poor drainage systems in the districts.

Yesterday, more than 400 people had to be evacuated from several districts in Malacca, Johor and Negri Sembilan because of flash floods.

Despite the cooler weather from the rain, Malaysians should not be bundling up anytime soon as the rumoured “extreme cold weather” which came up in social media was far from the truth.

The Star had earlier debunked an unverified news report that went viral online, which predicted that Malaysia would experience cold weather during the Chinese New Year period.

Che Gayah said such a claim was “untrue”, adding that the temperature would remain within the normal range throughout February.

“The statement was not from me. The lowest temperature of 16°C was actually referring to last year’s minimum temperature,” she said.