PETALING JAYA: Major floods in northwest states in Peninsular Malaysia are expected to recur in the coming days due to heavy rain and high water levels in rivers, says climatologists.
Extra high tides are expected between Oct 18 and 20, and if there is heavy rain and water level is high in rivers, floods are highly likely to occur, says Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah of the National Antarctic Research Centre.
He added it is common for Kedah to experience high rainfall in the month of October. He added the downpour in Kedah was due to low pressure at Kra Isthmus in Thailand.
“We also expect to see rain on Sunday and Monday. As such, the risk of major floods remain high for northwest states.
“We are currently undergoing wet weather in the intermonsoon period as wind conditions have not changed.
“We have yet to experience the monsoon season. When it arrives, the wind direction will move to the east coast which will be susceptible to major floods after November,” said Azizan.
Climatologist Associate Professor Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul said the floods in Kedah have been particularly severe due to a combination of factors.
He said heavy and prolonged rainfall, especially in upstream areas of rivers such as Sungai Padang Terap, has caused water to flow rapidly downstream, causing floods in districts such as Baling, Kubang Pasu and Kota Setar.
Ramzah said some areas experienced flash floods due to the extreme volume of rainwater overflowing drainage systems.
Another significant factor is the recurrence of flooding in the same areas.
“As water begins to recede, it is often followed by new downpours, which triggers more flooding.
“We are coming into the northeast monsoon, which always brings heavy rainfall because an early monsoon season is typically associated with unstable atmosphere that leads to extreme rainfall.” he added.
He said areas that are already vulnerable to floods might face even more severe conditions as both weather patterns and sea levels could combine to exacerbate flood risks.
“The upcoming high tide phenomenon in late October could worsen the situation, especially if it coincides with heavy rains.
“Looking ahead, the monsoon season has only just begun, raising concerns if other states might also experience major flood conditions,” said Ramzah.
The latest weather forecast by the MetMalaysia reported that rain and thunderstorms are expected throughout the coming week in Kedah, mainly at coastal and interior areas. A similar forecast has also been predicted for Perlis but at certain areas.
The number of flood victims in Kedah on Thursday increased to 3,655 people from 1,163 families compared to 3,496 people from 1,126 families the previous day.
