Thailand’s Meteorological Department has come out to warn citizens of more rain and floods as the monsoon continues to pass through the central region over the next couple of days.
The Meteorological Department said that it anticipates heavy rain in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan today and there is an 80% chance of rain in the Bangkok Metropolitan area.
The department came out to say that the heavy rain seen over the past couple of days has left many areas inundated and there are a total of 23 provinces that have been impacted.
Monsoons and Tropical Storm Noru last week led to floods in 28 provinces where 23,339 households were affected and 3 people died, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported. The situation is already resolved in 5 provinces.
Heavy rain and flashfloods led to flooding which still persists in 281 districts of 18 provinces, mostly in the North and Northeast, including Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Phetchabun, Phichit, Tak, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawn, Nan, Phrae, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Loei, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Kanchanaburi and Prachinburi.
Overflowing rivers was also affecting 20 districts of 5 provinces, mostly in the Central Region including Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Pathum Thani, Sing Buri and Chai Nat.
North & Northeast Flooding
The flooding in Ching Mai is not as bad as the major flooding in 2011, Chiang Mai’s Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn said where the Ping River has overflown as the water level was 1 meter above crisis level on Monday.
The governor expects the flooding situation along the river and flash floods in Chiang Dao and Mae Taeng districts to be resolved within coming days.
Meanwhile Sisaket was also hit by overflowing waterways with flooding in 22 districts while the flooding situation in Ubon Ratchathani is still at crisis level as the water level in Mun River continue to rise.
Some districts in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya such as Sena District have reportedly been under 4 meters of water for more than 2 months now.
The National Water Command Centre warned of further overflowing and flooding along Pa Sak River (Lopburi and Ayutthaya) and Chao Phraya River (Chai Nat and Uthai Thani) between now and October 9.
The DDPM warned of further flash floods in the North and Central regions today including:
Central North: Uthai Thani
Central: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Chai Nat, Suphan Buri, Chonburi, Rayong, Trat, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sing Buri, Lopburi, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo and Bangkok.
The DDPM also warned of floodwater from overflowing rivers and waterways in the North, Northeast and Central regions including:
North: Chaing Mai, Lamphun, Uttaradit, Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Tak and Nakhon Sawan
Northeast: Loei, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kean, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani
Changing Winds
With cold winds heading south from China and monsoons in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, the Thai Meteorological Department said they expect less rain in the North and Northeast but more rain in the Central, East and South regions between October 4 and 9.
The good news is that the department is expecting heavy rains to begin to dissipate throughout the country between October 10 and 13 as cold winds are beginning to cover the North and Northeast.
This is causing the winds to change direction to eastern and northeastern winds which is a sign that the season is changing.
