ALOR SETAR: People in Kedah, especially those living in flat areas are advised to brace for stormy weather which could escalate into 'mini tornados' or 'belalai darat'.
State Meteorological Department director Muhammad Khalil Ab. Aziz said the phenomenon was common in the northern Peninsular particularly in flat areas.
"This phenomenon could occur when there is Cumulonimbus Cloud formation during the current dry spell coupled with strong winds.
"As such, we wish to advise the public to be on alert and to avoid being anywhere close to the area where the 'belalai darat' phenomenon emerges," he said when contacted.
He was responding to a 'mini tornado' phenomenon which purportedly occurred in Bukit Kayu Hitam yesterday.
Khalil said based on the video, which is making rounds on social media, the 'belalai darat' formation was considered as mild.
"The damage could have been worse such as roofs being ripped off, if the belalai darat was lashing at higher speeds," he said.
However, no police reports have been lodged over the incident.
Among the worst 'mini tornado' incidents reported in Kedah was back in 2014 when a series of freak storms lashed out in Langkawi and Pendang, leaving a trail of damages to dozens of houses besides uprooting trees.