What triggered the severe East Coast floods beyond normal monsoon patterns?

Question

Accepted Answer

Exceptional heavy rainfall and high tides triggered the severe East Coast floods
Severe East Coast floods were triggered primarily by exceptional heavy rainfall exceeding 1,000mm in Kelantan and Terengganu, which was equivalent to about six months of rainfall. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said some areas received more than double the usual precipitation, and the situation was worsened by a high tides phenomenon. When high river levels and high sea levels converge, it leads to overflows.
Rainfall above 1,000mm in Kelantan and Terengganu
The floods were linked to rainfall totals exceeding 1,000mm, described as equivalent to six months’ worth of rainfall in Kelantan and Terengganu. River water levels in both states were also higher than during the major floods in 2014, based on records from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS). Fadillah said the rainfall produced an extraordinary amount of precipitation, with some areas receiving more than double the usual volume.
High tides contributed to overflows when sea and river levels met
Fadillah said the heavy rainfall was further exacerbated by high tides. The mechanism he cited was the convergence of high river and sea levels, which causes overflows. This combination meant that water levels were more likely to spill over than under normal conditions.
River and sea level convergence pushed flooding beyond normal patterns
The briefing tied the severity to both rainfall extremes and the timing effects of high tides. In Kelantan and Terengganu, river water levels were already elevated, and the additional impact of high sea levels increased the likelihood of flooding. The result was flooding affecting numerous districts and regions along the East Coast.
The floods were not limited to one category of flooding
Officials also identified three main types of flooding: monsoon floods, flash floods, and coastal floods. This indicates that the rainfall and high tides did not only affect inland rivers but also fed into coastal flooding conditions. The overall picture was consistent with a broader impact from the rainfall-plus-tide conditions rather than a single, isolated pattern.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

What triggered the severe East Coast floods beyond normal monsoon patterns?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends