By Sulaiman Dayat Syarif
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 December 2021: The massive rains that began late Friday night (December 17) and persisted for nearly 24 hours were comparable to a month’s average rainfall, making it a once in a 100-year weather event.
Malay Mail reported the Secretary General, Ministry of Environment and Water, Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang saying that the phenomenon occurred due to monsoon flow and low-pressure weather system, which reached the level of a tropical depression that formed in the South China Sea which the Meteorological Department detected on 12 December.
On December 16, the system entered Pahang. It moved across the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, causing a rise in humidity and continuous heavy rain in almost every state in the peninsular.
“It is an exception because generally during the monsoon season, only states in the East Coast would receive heavy rain but this time, the entire peninsular.”
He cited the high amount of rainfall recorded, with Sentul station being the highest at 363 (mm), Gombak 247mm, Jinjang 258mm, and Sungai Bonus Jalan Tun Razak 273mm.
“The annual rainfall in Kuala Lumpur is 2,400 mm, and this means yesterday’s rain has exceeded the average precipitation for a month.
“According to the most recent weather model analysis, the rainfall will decrease today, but there will still be wet weather in several locations throughout the day. Based on the analysis, there will be no persistent heavy downpour warning for the Klang Valley this evening,” he added.
The floods that hit the Klang Valley following heavy downpours on Friday had caused thousands of residents to be evacuated while many motorists were stranded due to congested or flooded roads.
Flooding was also reported to have occurred in Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perak. ***
Source: Malay Mail