Heavy rainfall set to subside

You’re very cute: Tengku Mahkota of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah playing with baby Nur Isha Damia Mohd Radi. Looking on are his wife Tengku Puan Pahang Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and the baby’s mother, Siti Hijriah Mat Yunus. They were visiting a flood relief centre in Kampung Sri Damai, Kuantan. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The heavy rainfall in Pa­­hang and Johor are expected to subside soon, prompting a downgrade from Red Alert to Orange Alert by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the weather had calmed down and heavy rainfall in these areas is only expected to last until today.

The Red Alert was earlier issued for Pekan and Rompin in Pahang and Mersing in Johor.

“Yesterday, we recorded more than 300mm in rainfall in some areas. But the wind patterns have now improved, so we are expecting lower rainfall.

“We forecast the weather in these areas would be fine after Wednesday,” he said.

Red Alert signifies continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day while Orange Alert indicates continuous heavy rain for more than six hours and rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow Alert means continuous heavy rain for not more than six hours with rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow alerts have been issued for Kema­man in Terengganu; Kuantan in Pahang; Se­gamat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi in Johor; Ku­­dat, Sandakan, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tua­ran, Kota Belud and Ranau in Sabah.

The alerts have been stopped for Dungun in Terengganu; Maran, Bera, Jerantut, Temer­loh and Bentong in Pahang; Tangkak, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor; Jelebu, Jempol, Tam­pin, Kuala Pilah and Rembau in Negri Sembi­lan; and Melaka.

The notice was issued by MetMalaysia at 1.30pm yesterday.

Alui said no heavy rainfall or strong winds are expected to disrupt the festivities on Chinese New Year (Feb 16).

Meanwhile, a check on the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s (DID) publicinfo­banjir.water.gov.my website showed that water levels at certain river stations in Pahang and Johor were still above danger levels.

In Pahang, Sungai Tembeling, Kuala Tahan; Sungai Belat, Sri Damai; and Sungai Lepar, Jambatan Gelugor; have exceeded the danger level at their respective measuring stations.

In Johor, Sungai Lenik in Ladang Chaah exceeded the danger level of 6m by 0.03m.

Sungai Dungun in Kuala Jengai, Terengganu, also recorded water levels above the 21m mark by 0.64m.

Bernama reported that Kelantan DID ex­­pects floods to hit six districts in the state’s river basin at 1am today.

The Kelantan DID director Kamal Mustapha named the districts as Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.