Once in 100 years: One month's average rainfall poured down in one day


KUALA LUMPUR: The amount of rain in the Klang Valley since late Friday (Dec 17) has equalled the average rainfall for a month, says the Environment and Water Ministry.

Its secretary-general Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang said this was due to monsoon flow factors and a low pressure weather system that achieved the level of a tropical depression that formed in the South China Sea.

This was detected by the Meteorological Department on Dec 12.

On Dec 16, the system entered Pahang and moved across the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, causing a rise in humidity and continuous heavy rain in almost every state in the peninsula.

"It is an exception because during the monsoon season, only states in the East Coast receive heavy rain. But this time, the entire peninsula, especially the central east coast and northern peninsula regions are receiving continuous heavy rain," he said in a media conference here Sunday (Dec 19).

He cited the high amount of rainfall recorded, with Sentul station being the highest at 363mm, Gombak (247mm), Jinjang (258mm) and Sungai Bonus Jalan Tun Razak (273mm).

"The annual rainfall in Kuala Lumpur is 2,400mm and this means yesterday's rainfall exceeded the average rainfall for a month. It is something beyond expectations and only occurs once every 100 years," he said.

He said the heavy rain since last Friday is expected to end as the low pressure weather system in the Melaka Straits had moved away from the country and was headed for the Andaman Sea.

"Based on the latest weather model analysis, the rainfall will lessen today (Dec 19), but there are still areas receiving wet weather throughout the day.

"Based on the analysis, there will be no continuous downpour warning for the Klang Valley this evening," he added.

The floods that hit the Klang Valley since Saturday (Dec 18) has caused thousands to be evacuated while many motorists were stranded due to congested or flooded roads.

Flooding also occurred in Pahang, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perak. – Bernama
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