The Malaysian Meteorological Department issued thunderstorm warnings on June 10, 2026, for several states and Federal Territories including Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Pahang, Selangor, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak. These warnings covered heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds, with validity lasting several hours; some reports indicated expiry until 7 p.m. while others extended warnings until midnight for certain areas [1, 2].
On June 11, heavy rainfall caused flash floods in Bintulu, Sarawak. Vehicles were stranded on flooded roads, and water spilled into nearby homes, but no injuries or evacuations were reported [3].
The weather concerns come as Malaysia prepares for a potential El Niño event starting this month and expected to last until mid-2027. The country may see a 40 to 60 percent reduction in rainfall, alongside hotter weather conditions [4]. Economy Minister Datuk Seri Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir stressed the risks, saying, "This risk must not be underestimated as it may affect water supply, increase haze risk, place pressure on public health, impact food and commodity crops, increase energy demand, and affect the overall macroeconomic environment" [4].
Past El Niño events, such as in 2015-2016, led to the closure of about 250 schools due to extreme heat and caused a significant decline of 16 to 18 percent in Malaysia’s palm oil production [4].
To mitigate these impacts, the government plans to enhance readiness and undertake early mitigation efforts, including three cloud-seeding operations aimed at boosting rainfall and reservoir levels [4].
The thunderstorm warnings on June 10 differed by source, with one reporting coverage for nine states plus Labuan until 7 p.m., and another citing five states, Kuala Lumpur, and Labuan until midnight [1, 2].
Authorities continue monitoring weather conditions closely as Malaysia confronts the dual challenges of immediate storms and the longer-term threat of El Niño.
