KL residents shocked by hailstones

 

PETALING JAYA: Residents in the capital were shocked when hailstones rained down in some areas around Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Jan 24).

Sinar Harian reported that the phenomenon occurred at about 5pm Monday at locations including Ukay Perdana and Wangsa Maju.

This soon went viral on social media with internet users sharing their own experiences witnessing the hail.

Actor Adam Corrie Lee Abdullah, in a Facebook post, said this was the first time he had experienced such a phenomenon in his lifetime.

“It was raining heavily and suddenly I heard some loud noises.

“I then went out to check and saw pieces of ice on the floor outside my house,” he said.

In a post on its website, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said that hailstones were clumps of ice produced during thunderstorms or cumulonimbus clouds.

“This usually occurs during unstable weather where strong currents within the cumulonimbus clouds would create clumps of ice.

“Hailstorms then take place when the clumps of ice drop to the ground without melting,” it said.

MetMalaysia added that such storms could occur wherever thunderstorms were, especially areas where strong cumulonimbus clouds are formed.

The public were also warned to take cover in shaded areas and advised to park their vehicles in roofed locations.

- Star