KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for multiple states across Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah, forecasting heavy downpours, lightning, and gusty winds until 7pm today.

In the weather advisory issued at 4pm, MetMalaysia indicated that the adverse weather will affect the entire northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, and Perak, alongside the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

In Selangor, seven districts are on alert: Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Selangor, Sabak Bernam, Klang, Kuala Langat, and Gombak.

In Negeri Sembilan, the warning applies to Seremban, Port Dickson, Rembau, and Tampin, while in Melaka, it covers Jasin and Alor Gajah. Further south in Johor, affected districts include Mersing, Tangkak, Muar, and Batu Pahat.

On the East Coast, stormy weather is forecast across Machang and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan; Besut, Setiu, and Hulu Terengganu in Terengganu; alongside Jerantut, Pekan, and Rompin in Pahang.

Sarawak and Sabah

In Sarawak, the advisory covers several central and northern divisions, including Sarikei (Maradong and Sarikei), Mukah (Tanjung Manis, Daro, and Mukah), Sibu (Selangau), Kuching, Kapit (Kapit and Belaga), and Limbang.

In Sabah, the warning spans multiple districts across five administrative divisions, encompassing Ranau and Kota Belud on the West Coast, as well as Tambunan, Sook, Keningau, Sipitang, Tenom, and Pensiangan in the Interior.

The alert also extends to the Tawau division (Tawau, Kunak, Lahad Datu, and Kalabakan), the Sandakan division (Kinabatangan, Paitan, Sandakan, Labuk and Sugut, and Telupid), and the Kudat division (Kota Marudu and Pitas).

MetMalaysia explained that a thunderstorm warning is triggered when cloud formations indicate imminent heavy rainfall with an intensity exceeding 20mm per hour, or when precipitation is expected to last for more than an hour.

The department emphasised that these alerts serve as short-term warnings and remain valid for a maximum duration of six hours from the time of issuance.