Since 29 November, the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia has been inundated with floodwaters to such an extent that the Deputy Prime Minister issued a statement describing the flood situation in Kelantan and Terengganu (Peninsular Malaysia) as being worse than the severe floods of 2014. Rainfall has also flooded parts of Kedah, with water from Sungai Anak Bukit entering the official residence of the Kedah Menteri Besar and reaching up to 0.5 meters in the kitchen quarters.
The flood death toll from northern Malaysia and southern Thailand has risen to nine with 140,896 people displaced in Malaysia and 640,000 households affected in southern Thailand, as of the time of writing. The Chana district of Songkhla province has reportedly suffered the worst floods in 50 years, triggered by three days of heavy rain in the southern region. A heavy rain warning remains in effect, with heavy to very heavy rains that may cause flash floods and overflows until early December, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
Indeed, Met Malaysia’s Long Term Weather Outlook had predicted that November had above average anomalies in Perlis and Kedah. Rainfall for Terengganu and parts of Kelantan was predicted to be wetter, receiving >60% (about 600mm) of rainfall. We had covered this in our Weather Update on 20 November 2024, however we note that Sabah has been downgraded from an anomaly risk.
On 27 November, Malaysia Met issued warnings for Kelantan, Terengganu and parts of Pahang were set to receive dangerous levels of rainfall.
On 30 November, Malaysian Met issued warnings that continuous heavy rain at danger levels is expected to occur in Kelantan, especially in Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai.
Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Hulu Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu and Marang in Terengganu are also forecasted to experience continuous heavy rain during the same period.
For December, however, Met Malaysia has predicted above average anomalies for parts of Kelantan, Terengganu, Perak, Kedah, Perlis and Sabah. Rainfall for the East Coast (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang) is expected to exceed >60% (about 600mm) above normal levels.
On-the-ground reports from agricultural groups in Kelantan, such as the Kelantan Farmers Association (PESAK)), indicate that 26,000ha of paddy fields have been submerged in flood waters. Some of these fields were only recently sown with seeds a few weeks ago. The sowing process for January 2025 had reportedly been already delayed due to earlier water supply issues with many farmers already unable to plant paddy for three consecutive seasons.