Storm alert for East Coast downgraded

The tail of typhoon Sonamu has shifted course while heavy tropical rain forecast for the three states has been downgraded.

PETALING JAYA: Heavy tropical rain forecast for three states in the East coast has been downgraded, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said.

Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang were placed on high alert yesterday after it was forecast that a tropical storm was expected to make landfall today and cause massive flooding in the three states.

The storm was the effect of typhoon Sonamu which struck the Philippines on Friday.

The Meteorological Department, however, has allayed fears by saying that the storm had lost power and altered its course before reaching land.

“We issued a press statement yesterday terminating the heavy rain advisory issued on Jan 5 for the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang,” a meteorological representative told FMT when contacted.

The heavy rain warning was revoked because the movement of the storm for South China Sea had shifted course.

“Thus, it is no longer heading to the east coast. In terms of the weather, there is nothing as result of the storm… the normal monsoon rain will be there as usual,” he said.