PETALING JAYA, Dec 19 – While tropical cyclones are said to be rare, a case of a cyclonic tropical depression is what is being cited for the heavy pour of rain in parts of Peninsular Malaysia that has brought on devastating floods in parts of the country.
According to a weather report, from an unconfirmed source, posted in the social media, the heavy rains have been caused by the cyclonic depression right above a good part Peninsular Malaysia, centred around Selangor and Klang Valley.
According to the report, the depression is like a whirlpool “above our heads” and the reason for the huge amount of rain that has been dumped in the epicentre or affected areas. Should the rain continue on Sunday, more low-lying areas will be affected.
With the tides high at four metres the last two days, the tidal gates would have been closed but with the continuous rain from inland, this may have pushed up the water levels.
It will be critical if the rain does not stop, the weather source said.
Meanwhile, environmentalists are repeating what they have been saying earlier: “That weather patterns could only get worse. With continued disregard for environment, such as removing the source of barriers that could hold up rain like trees, as well as poor planning ahead of the monsoon period, which are all contributory factors to the floods, it may only get worse.”
The Meteorological Department of Malaysia meanwhile said heavy rains will continue in parts of the peninsula including Perak, Kedah and Penang.
It also issued warnings of strong winds and rough seas up till Dec 21 with wave height of up to 3.5 metres and winds of 40-50 kmph over the waters of East Johor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Sarawak, Western Sabah and Labuan.
This condition of strong winds and rough seas is dangerous to small crafts, recreational sea activities and water sports.
–WE