Meteorological Conditions

Basically, the meteorological condition of the area the SMART Tunnel is going to be
built is quite stabilized and same as the other areas in the Klang Valley. The seasons
in this area are tropical seasons which are dry and wet seasons. Sunny day is to be
expected throughout the year. Besides that, rainfalls with lightning and thunder is to
be expected throughout the year in this area where the SMART Tunnel is going to be
built and since Klang Valley or even Malaysia is not in the Ring of Fire (Lingkaran Api
Pasifik), tropical cyclone, thunderstorm or tornado would not occur here. The
average rainfall forecast per month in Klang Valley is 325mm from November to
December, 215mm from January and February and 250mm in March in the year of
2005 based on a study done on the SMART Project. So the average rainfall annually
is 3000mm.

Figure 1: Flash flood near the Masjid Jamek LRT Station

So heavy rainfalls that cause flash floods are the main concern here and one of the
main reasons the SMART Tunnel is going to be built. These kind of rainfalls causes
floods in the Klang Valley area and the probability of the extreme flood conditions is
expected to be one in a hundred years. Furthermore, when rainfalls occur at the
catchment area of the Klang River basin, it causes water from the river to flow to
the surface at the confluence with the Ampang River, and thus the flash floods
occur.