Alor Setar sits on Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast, where a wetter southwest monsoon and frequent convective thunderstorms combine to make rainfall a near-constant feature of the equatorial climate, with flash flooding the region’s primary weather hazard.
Kedah’s capital sits on the Kedah River amid the state’s extensive rice-growing plains, which depend on managed drainage during the wetter months. Rapid urbanization has reduced natural drainage capacity across much of this densely populated corridor, so even a routine afternoon thunderstorm can cause serious street flooding within minutes, which is why Malaysia’s Meteorological Department relies heavily on radar for short-term flood warnings here. Learn more: Flash Flood Warning Signs on Radar · Open the full Rain Map