New radar system to tackle Klang Valley floods

The Drainage and Irrigation Department hopes to overcome flash floods in the Klang Valley, especially in Kuala Lumpur, by installing a new radar system that provides quick readings of rainfall.

The department's Hydrology and Water Resources Division director Datuk Hanapi Mohamad Noor said the Polarimetric Doppler weather radar system from Japan would cost about RM3 million.

He added that the system, capable of detecting the motion of rain droplets in addition to the intensity of the precipitation would be installed after discussions with the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

"The current radar takes about 10 minutes to provide a record of rainfall but the new radar system can provide the required report in a minute," he said after attending a seminar on ways to overcome floods through an initiative between the governments of Malaysia and Japan yesterday.

Radar data system are used to make short term forecast of future positions and intensities of rain, snow, hail, and other weather phenomena.