PETALING JAYA: Three districts in Kedah have hit Level 2 heatwave status, with the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) warning of persistently high temperatures across parts of the peninsula.
In an update at 4pm on Tuesday (March 24), MetMalaysia said Pokok Sena, Pendang and Baling are now under Level 2 (Heatwave).
This status is reached when maximum daily temperatures range between 37°C and 40°C for at least three consecutive days.
Another 14 areas have been placed under Level 1 (Alert), with maximum daily temperatures of 35°C to 37°C over three days or more.
These are Perlis; Sik, Padang Terap, Kubang Pasu, Langkawi, Kuala Muda, Kulim and Bandar Baharu in Kedah; Northeast and North Seberang Prai in Penang; as well as Hulu Perak, Selama, Kinta and Kuala Kangsar in Perak.
For more information on the daily hot weather status, the public can refer to https://www.met.gov.my/iklim/status-cuaca-panas.
Separately, MetMalaysia also issued a thunderstorm warning at 4.30pm for parts of Perak, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, valid until 7pm on Tuesday.
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected in Larut, Matang and Selama, Manjung, Kampar, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim in Perak.
Similar conditions are expected in Hulu Selangor, Gombak, Petaling and Hulu Langat in Selangor, as well as the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur.
The department said such warnings are issued when there are signs of thunderstorms with rainfall intensity exceeding 20mm an hour that are occurring or expected to last for more than an hour.
Thunderstorm alerts are short-term warnings and are generally valid for no more than six hours at a time.
