INTERACTIVE: Hotter cities, heavier storms

Flash floods hit Jalan 222 in Petaling Jaya following heavy rain on April 20, 2026. Experts say the urban heat island effect is among the factors contributing to flash floods. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The hotter it gets, the harder it rains. In urban areas such as the Klang Valley, experts say this is increasingly the reality. 

They say rising temperatures, combined with rapid development and climate change, are intensifying thunderstorms, increasing the risk of flash floods in cities.