His statement came after Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD) director-general Alui Bahari told Berita Harian on Nov 12 that the heaviest rainfall recorded in the history of Penang was in 1995.
Lim said the recent high rainfall recorded was three times higher than that experienced in 1995.
He said the Teluk Bahang dam recorded total rainfall of 1162mm in September this year. It peaked on Sept 15 with 180mm and Sept 16 with 255mm of rainfall.
This compared with September 1995 when the rainfall recorded was only 482mm a month.
On Nov 5, total rainfall of 372mm was recorded at the Air Itam Dam after 15 hours of rain, Lim said.
He said the Sept 15, 1995 floods saw 270mm of rainfall, which was less than what was recorded this year.
Lim said the Met Dept’s data only shows how inefficient it is and that it is unable to get its facts right.
Alui was quoted in Berita Harian as saying the early November flash floods in Penang and parts of Kedah were caused by low pressure in parts of the northern peninsula.
He said “heavier rain” had taken place in Penang in 1995.
Alui was quoted as saying: “Kejadian hujan lebat yang berterusan di Pulau Pinang dan sebahagian Kedah pada 4 dan 5 November lalu adalah disebabkan oleh kehadiran kawasan tekanan udara rendah di utara semenanjung. Kawasan terbabit menjadi lokasi penumpuan angin dan kelembapan yang tinggi, menyebabkan hujan lebat secara berterusan berserta angin kencang.
“Untuk makluman, hujan lebat yang lebih teruk pernah berlaku di Pulau Pinang pada tahun 1995.”
Penang was hit by flash floods on the weekend of Nov 4 and 5, which displaced over 7,000 people and claimed seven lives.
Exactly a week later on Nov 13, all relief centres were closed, and victims returned to their homes. The Penang government will be giving RM700 in aid to those affected.
The extraordinary rainfall was caused by the “Invest 95W” tropical disturbance, international weather reports said.
The tropical disturbance was described as the start of a typhoon. The progression from a tropical disturbance can lead to a tropical depression, a tropical storm and finally, a typhoon, which is common in Asia, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Guan Eng: Penang’s unusual rainfall likely due to Typhoon Damrey