PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Meteorological Department has advised Malaysians to be mindful of inclement weather as the country experiences a shift of the monsoon season.
Department director-general Alui Bahari said the monsoon shift, from northeast to southwest, began on Tuesday until the first week of May.
“The peak of the monsoon shift will take place in April, which will trigger strong wind and heavy rain that will last between one and two hours and flash floods, especially in the afternoons and early evenings,” he told NSTP.
He urged the public to take note of the weather development and forecasts, although heavy rain and lightning storms were forecasted to last only for about one or two hours.
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Alui said the erratic weather would commonly occur at the west coast and interior areas of the Peninsular; the west coast of Sabah as well as at the west and central Sarawak mainly in the afternoon and early evening.
“In this respect, avoid being in open space when it rains and also do not park your vehicles where there are many tall trees and sign posts which can fall due to strong wind and lightning storms.”
He also said the formation of thunderstorm clouds, also known as cumulonimbus clouds, could also produce hailstones and small-scale twisters.
“But it is difficult to predict hailstone and tornado phenomenon, thus it is wise for the public to be more vigilant and be more aware of the weather,” Alui added.
The public, he said, could get their weather updates from MetMalaysia’s website at www.met.gov.my, myCuaca mobile application or via MetMalaysia Facebook and Twitter or short messaging system at 15888 as well as its hotline at 1300221MET (1638).