In a Twitter post today, he said six areas in the city had been hit by flash floods.

However, Ismail did not name the areas which had been affected.

“Avoid going through these areas and please drive carefully,” he urged the public.

Several areas in Kuala Lumpur appeared to have been badly affected by flash floods following a downpour this afternoon.

Among the areas affected, according to social media, were Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan Kuchai Lama, Lebuh Ampang, Jalan Ampang and some parts of Kesas Highway.

At 4pm today, the meteorological department issued a warning of thunderstorms in Kuala Lumpur, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sabah. It said the rain was expected to last until 7pm.

The department has also forecast bad weather until March 13, with thunderstorms expected in several areas in the west part of the peninsula, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

The fire and rescue department confirmed eight areas in Kuala Lumpur have been hit by flash floods.

This include Jalan Kuchai Lama, Jalan Air Keroh-Air Panas in Setapak, Jalan Leboh Ampang, Taman Salak Selatan, Taman U-Thant in Jalan Ampang, Taman Sri Petaling, Taska Roskani Jabatan Kerja Raya in Jalan Cheras and Kampung Periok in Kampung Baru.

In Jalan Kuchai Lama, the department said floodwaters were as high as two metres and it has been estimated that 12 cars were submerged.

“Some victims were standing on the roof of their vehicle and were rescued by firefighters at the scene. Everything is under control,” it said in a statement.

In Jalan Cheras, the department said the flash flood has caused a landslide at Taska Roskani, however, the situation is under control and the locations involved are being monitored, pointing out that 40 students and teachers were safely evacuated.

“Floodwaters in Kampung Periok were as high as three metres but the fire department has controlled the situation too,” it said.

It added that the conditions of all other areas were stable.