The meteorological service has issued a statement expressing concern that persistent rain and possible flash flooding may continue in several regions of southern Thailand. In spite of tropical storm Nesat’s demise, another storm is forming and may have a minor impact on Thailand before the month’s end.
Yesterday evening (20 October), the Meteorological Department announced that tropical depression Nesat had been reduced to a low-pressure cell. Over the course of today, the cell occupied the coast of upper Vietnam until disintegrating entirely upon contact with a cold airmass in the country.
Officials have warned that a powerful low-pressure trough heading in from the Pacific on October 27 has the potential to develop into a storm. As a result, the Northeastern region of Thailand would have more precipitation by month’s end. As a cold airmass is forecast to descend at the same time and blanket upper Thailand, the consequences will be mild.
At least for the time being, the Southern Region may expect to get typical amounts of precipitation. Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat can expect either constant or intense precipitation. The provinces of Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun should anticipate severe to very heavy rainfall. In some parts of these provinces, flash floods and forest runoffs are possible.
The meteorological service predicted that the Andaman Sea’s higher regions will see waves of between 3 and 5 meters in height. In storm-prone regions, the heights of the waves will approach 3 meters. Waves will be 1-2 meters high in the lower Andaman and the Gulf of Thailand, but higher than 2 meters in thunderstorm zones. Before October 22nd, it is not advisable for small boats to venture into the upper Andaman Sea.
Due to the weakening of the cold airmass that stretched from China to cover upper Thailand, southeasterly winds are now more common throughout most of the country. That’s why certain parts of northern Thailand are experiencing morning fog and rain.
Doi Inthanon, a mountain in Chiang Mai province with pleasant weather due to its elevation, remains a popular tourist destination. Earlier today, the summit of Doi Inthanon had a temperature of barely 10 degrees Celsius. However, tourists were forced to battle the extremely dense fog, which reduced visibility to 5 meters or less on several sections of road.
