KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has placed swathes of seven states on thunderstorm alert this afternoon, forecasting heavy downpours, lightning, and strong winds until 5:00 pm.
The advisory, released at 2:30 pm today, warns of severe convective weather sweeping across parts of Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak, and Sabah.
Across the northern peninsula, the alert covers broad stretches of Kedah, including Kubang Pasu, Padang Terap, Sik, Yan, Baling, Kulim, and Bandar Baharu.
In neighbouring Penang, unstable weather conditions threaten all three mainland administrative districts of Seberang Perai Utara, Seberang Perai Tengah, and Seberang Perai Selatan.
Further south in Perak, the weather agency flagged Larut, Matang and Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Manjung, Perak Tengah, and Hilir Perak.
The storm band also extends along Pahang's interior and highlands, encompassing Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Raub, and Bentong, while the southern state of Johor sees Johor Bahru, Kulai, and Pontian on alert.
In East Malaysia, adverse weather blankets broad tracts of Sarawak. The department identified affected areas within Serian, Kuching (covering Kuching and Bau), Samarahan (encompassing Samarahan, Asajaya, Simunjan, and Gedong), Sri Aman (including Pantu and Lubok Antu), and Sarikei (covering Julau and Maradong). Central and coastal divisions are equally affected, including Sibu (covering Sibu and Kanowit), Mukah (spanning Dalat, Daro, and Matu), and Song within the Kapit division.
In Sabah, the storm warning spans the Interior Division around Pensiangan, Tongod in Sandakan, as well as the southeastern districts of Tawau and Kalabakan.
MetMalaysia issues thunderstorm warnings as short-term, high-priority advisories when rain-bearing clouds demonstrate imminent precipitation exceeding 20 millimetres per hour, or when heavy showers are anticipated to persist for longer than an hour.
Each alert remains valid for a maximum operational window of six hours from the time of issuance.
