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Squall Line Phenomenon Blamed For Flash Flood In Shah
Alam
PETALING
JAYA, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The flash flood in Shah Alam
Sunday morning was caused by a phenomenon called the
"squall line" that happened following a collision
between southwesterly winds and the land breeze in the
Strait of Melaka.
The Meteorological Department Weather Forecast Centre
Principal Assistant Director Muhammad Helmi Abdullah
said: "The phenomenon brought along thunderstorm cells
in one line at the same time. It was accompanied by a
heavy downpour."
The phenomenon normally occurred during the monsoon
season from May to September but it could happen all
year round if the atmospheric and meteorological
conditions permitted it to happen, he told Bernama here
today.
The flood in Shah Alam had closed two PLUS highways,
disrupted the Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB)
commuter service and forced the evacuation of about
2,000 households from six areas.
Muhammad Helmi said: "This morning, we detected a
collision between winds from the South China Sea and
from the Indian Ocean in the Strait of Melaka.
"Following the collision, a squall line had emerged over
the area, and it had moved eastwards to the west coast
of the peninsula.
"And within four hours from 4 am, the amount of rain
recorded at our station in Subang was 118mm compared to
the usual reading of about 177mm a month," he said.
Muhammad Helmi expected another heavy shower and
thunderstorm tomorrow and the day after in the west
coast of the peninsula, particularly in Perak, Selangor,
Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and western Johor.
This might cause flash floods, he said.
He said sea tides had nothing to with the phenomenon but
a high tide could worsen the flood situation in the
affected areas.
-- BERNAMA |
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