World · Malaysia Bureau
Damansara landspout linked to active thunderstorm activity, MetMalaysia confirms
Malaysia's meteorological authority has attributed a mini tornado that swept through the Damansara area of Selangor to vigorous thunderstorm cloud formations. The localised weather phenomenon struck the region on the evening of October 13.
LSN Malaysia ·
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has determined that the landspout observed in Damansara, Selangor, was generated by intensely active thunderstorm clouds in the vicinity. Such tornadoes, also known as landspouts, are typically short-lived and occur when rotating columns of air form beneath cumulonimbus clouds during severe thunderstorm activity.
The incident marked one of the more visible extreme weather events to affect the Klang Valley region in recent months. Landspouts differ from traditional tornadoes in that they develop from ground level upward rather than extending downward from a rotating cloud base, though both can produce significant localised damage.
MetMalaysia's analysis suggests the atmospheric conditions present on the evening in question were conducive to the formation of such phenomena. The department continues to monitor weather patterns across the Klang Valley and surrounding areas to provide early warnings to residents and relevant authorities.
Malaysia's tropical climate and high humidity levels can occasionally produce such isolated weather events, particularly during periods of heightened atmospheric instability. The public has been advised to remain alert during thunderstorm warnings and to take shelter in sturdy structures when severe weather threatens.