PETALING JAYA: A late evening thundersorm triggered flash floods and casued heavy traffic congestion in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Roads affected by flash floods were Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Cheras Lama, Jalan Chan Sow Lin and Jalan Segambut, said the Fire and Rescue Department.

Among the roads that experienced heavy traffic congestion were Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Duta, the Mahameru Highway and the Federal Highway.

The SMART tunnel remained open to traffic in both directions.
There was another report of an uprooted tree in the National Mosque parking lot due to the storm, which struck at around 5.30pm, whcih was removed by City Hall workers.

Motorists caught in the heavy traffic and flash floods took to Twitter to share the information, sending images and warnings to other users to avoid the affected stretches.

Posts also reported flash flooding at the Jalan Duta tunnel, Jalan Pahang, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Maharajalela, Jalan Kuching, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Genting Klang, Jalan Syed Putra and around the KLCC area.

Twitter user Nizam Shamsury tweeted an image of a congested road in the thunderstorm with the message "heavy rain with thunderstorm in KL, drive carefully guys".

Another user @christinaaong tweeted that she saw five cars that were partly submerged by the flash flood.
Television personality Will Quah also warned other users of flash floods, tweeting that "If you were thinking of taking Jalan Parlimen into KL, don't. Unless you're going by boat".

The Malaysian Meteorological Department had forecasted scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and isolated rains on Wednesday night in Kuala Lumpur.

A check on the department's seven-day forecast stated that the city might be experiencing rain again Thursday.