Experts have warned that Malaysia will face extreme El Nino heat and severe flash floods that will continue until next year.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia climatologist Emeritus Professor Dr Fredolin Tangang said a strong El Nino would impact the nation from April this year to May next year.

He said the intensity of storms in Kuala Lumpur had risen steadily over the past 30 years.

Inadequate drainage and overdevelopment continued to worsen flooding, he added.

Between January and May, major storms struck Sabah, Sarawak and Selangor.

Storms in April and May also submerged key Klang Valley routes in Petaling Jaya, Ampang, Shah Alam, Sungai Besi, Gombak and Jalan Kuchai Lama, as well as the Bukit Jalil LRT station and Kesas Highway.

Universiti Malaya meteorologist Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah cited an 82 per cent probability of El Nino between May and July, rising to 96 per cent from December to February.

He warned that a 10 to 20 per cent drop in rainfall could increase the risk of heatwaves and haze in September, before heavier rains return during the October-November inter-monsoon and northeast monsoon seasons.

To address the issue, Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s 2026 budget allocates RM84.6 million for flood mitigation works, including RM45.15 million for development and RM39.45 million for operating costs, while RM32.18 million is set aside for slope maintenance and management.

In Selangor, the federal government, through the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, has handed over six completed projects worth RM83.46 million.

The projects comprise three coastal erosion control initiatives costing RM9.26 million in Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor, the RM60.5 million Morib Beach Coastal Conservation Project, a RM4.3 million riverbank stabilisation along a 1.2km stretch of Sungai Penchala and a RM9.4 million upgrade along 1.6km of Sungai Kemensah.

The government has also approved 25 projects with a total cost of RM3.639 billion