KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang are expected to be the first states hit by continuous heavy rainfall during this Northeast Monsoon, which began on Thursday (Nov 13) and is forecast to last until March next year.
MetMalaysia deputy director-general (Operations) Ambun Dindang said the monsoon, moving from north to south, typically affects these three states first from November to December before extending to Pahang and Johor in the next phase.
"From December to January, continuous rain is expected to concentrate over southern Terengganu, Pahang and Johor. Sabah and Sarawak may also be affected depending on the monsoon's movement," he said on RTM's Selamat Pagi Malaysia.
Ambun said constant monitoring is being carried out using satellite images updated every 10 minutes and 19 weather radars nationwide to detect raincloud formations and monsoon surges, which are the main drivers of heavy rainfall.
"A monsoon surge brings strong winds from the South China Sea that accumulate moisture and produce continuous rain for one to three days. This often triggers flooding," he explained.
MetMalaysia is also monitoring low-pressure systems that may intensify rainfall, along with global phenomena such as La Nina, El Nino, the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).
Commenting on Typhoon Fung-wong, which struck the Philippines and Vietnam in early this month, Ambun said it has no direct impact on Malaysia. However, Sabah experienced rough sea conditions in the South China Sea.
"The earlier Typhoon Kalmaegi moved slightly southward and affected Sabah. Fung-wong is tracking further north, so its impact on Malaysia is minimal. However, the South China Sea remains rough and a marine warning has also been issued," he said.
He also advised the public, especially those in flood-prone areas, to stay alert to updates and obtain the latest warnings through the MyCuaca app, as well as MetMalaysia's website and official social media channels. - Bernama
