KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The Meteorological Department has issued a thunderstorm warning for several states, with heavy rain and strong winds expected until 7pm today.

The alert covers districts in Perak (Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang and Muallim), Kelantan (Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang and Pasir Puteh), Terengganu (Kuala Nerus, Hulu Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Marang, Dungun and Kemaman), Pahang (Raub, Bentong, Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin), as well as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Warnings were also issued for Negeri Sembilan (Jelebu and Seremban), Johor (Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Mersing and Pontian), Sarawak (Betong, Sarikei, Sibu, Mukah, Kapit, Miri and Limbang) and Sabah (Tambunan, West Coast and Kota Marudu).

The department said warnings are issued when signs indicate thunderstorms with rainfall exceeding 20mm per hour are imminent or expected to last more than an hour. Such alerts are short term and valid for no more than six hours.

The latest warning was issued at 3.45pm today.