Bangkok, The Meteorological Department has issued a warning to 71 provinces that there will be heavy to very heavy rain, which may cause flash floods and forest runoff. It emphasizes that special precautions must be taken from July 15-18. The ONWR has opened temporary frontline water management centers in flood-prone areas on the eastern seaboard and the Bang Pakong River basin, as well as the Mun River basin, to ensure efficient and timely water management and assistance to the public.
Ms. Karawi Sittichivaphak, Director-General of the Meteorological Department, issued the Meteorological Department Announcement No. 6 on heavy to very heavy rain in Thailand and strong waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. During 15-18 July 2024, a strong monsoon trough will pass through the North and Northeastern regions into a strong low-pressure cell on the coast of central Vietnam. In addition, a relatively strong southwest monsoon will cover the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. This will cau
se more rain in Thailand and heavy rain in many areas, with some areas experiencing very heavy rain. People in Thailand should be careful of the dangers of heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rain, which may cause flash floods and forest runoff, especially in areas on hillsides near waterways and lowlands. Be extra careful when traveling through areas with thunderstorms.
For the provinces that are expected to have heavy to very heavy rain in some areas, a total of 71 provinces are as follows:
July 15, 2024
The northern region includes Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phichit, and Phetchabun.
Northeastern region includes Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
The Central region includes Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Sara
buri, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, as well as Bangkok and its vicinity, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon.
The Eastern region includes Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces.
The southern region includes Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces.
July 16, 2024
The northern region includes Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, and Phetchabun.
Northeastern region includes Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
The Central region includes the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Tha
ni, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon, as well as Bangkok and its vicinity.
The Eastern region includes Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces.
The southern region includes Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun provinces.
July 17-18, 2024
The northern region includes Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, and Phetchabun.
Northeastern region includes Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
The Central region includes the provinces of Nakh
on Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon, as well as Bangkok and its vicinity.
The Eastern region includes Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces.
The southern region includes Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, and Satun provinces.
For waves in the upper Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand, they are quite strong with waves 2-3 meters high. In areas with thunderstorms, waves are higher than 3 meters. As for the lower Andaman Sea and the lower Gulf of Thailand, the sea has waves approximately 2 meters high. In areas with thunderstorms, waves are higher than 2 meters. Sailors in the aforementioned areas are asked to sail with caution and avoid sailing in areas with thunderstorms. Small boats in the Andaman Sea and
the upper Gulf of Thailand should refrain from leaving the shore during 15-18 July 2024.
Mr. Somkuan Tonjan, Director of the Weather Forecast Division, said that between July 15 and 18, it is a period when weather conditions must be closely monitored. There are 3 factors that cause unstable weather conditions during this period: a strong monsoon, a monsoon trough across the lower North, upper Central, and Northeastern regions, as well as a strong low-pressure cell covering the upper part of Thailand. Therefore, be careful of heavy rain, flash floods, forest runoff, and strong waves on both the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, boats should sail with caution and small boats should not leave the shore.
From July 19-24, the monsoon trough will move up to cover the North and upper Northeast. Rain will continue to fall. The North and Northeast must be careful of accumulated rain for another 1-2 days. Then, from July 21-24, the rain will start to decrease.
The Office of National Water Resources
(ONWR) has issued an announcement for areas where heavy to very heavy rain is expected to be on alert for flash floods and mudslides, as well as for relevant agencies to monitor medium and small reservoirs with more than 80 percent of water capacity in the provinces of Nan, Phayao, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Loei, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani, Buriram, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Trat, and reservoirs with statistics of water flowing into the reservoirs exceeding their storage capacity, which are at risk of overflowing the reservoirs and causing flooding in downstream areas. Consider managing water appropriately to prevent or minimize impacts downstream of the dams.
Also, urged to continuously monitor weather conditions and water situations, especially areas with accumulated rainfall of more than 90 millimeters in a 24-hour period and risk areas that have been flooded regularly or urban areas that have been flooded and cannot be drained in time, includ
ing preparing a plan to deal with flood situations, preparing personnel, machinery, tools, and hydraulic buildings to be ready for use, and integrating readiness to provide assistance immediately.
In addition, monitor, inspect, repair the embankments along the river and accelerate the removal of water obstacles, and plan appropriate water management, adjust water management in large, medium and small water storage areas, water in the river, including water discharge dams and water gates to be consistent from upstream to downstream, and by accelerating the drainage and draining of water to accommodate the expected heavy rain, as well as publicizing the water situation and warning people who are expected to be affected in advance to prepare for immediate evacuation if the situation occurs.
The ONWR recently set up a temporary frontline water management center in flood-prone areas of the Eastern Seaboard and Bang Pakong River basins in Rayong Province. Mr. Surasee Kittimonthon, ONWR secretary-general, said tha
t the ONWR has already issued an announcement to watch out for heavy to very heavy rain.
For the eastern region, there are some areas where heavy rain has recently resulted in flooding, such as Chonburi and Prachin Buri provinces. Therefore, a temporary frontline water management center has been established to integrate and direct local agencies to prevent and resolve flooding, flash floods, and mudslides, so that they can return to normal as soon as possible, including on the same day.
In Nakhon Ratchasima Province, ONWR has opened a temporary frontline water management center in the flood-risk areas of the Mun River Basin to prepare for flooding in the Mun River Basin due to heavy rain in the Northeastern region.
The operation mechanism of the temporary frontline water management center will have a meeting to follow up on weather factors and daily water situations, including exchanging information between the working groups. After that, the information will be used to assess and analyze, create a risk ma
p, analyze, and identify risk areas to announce warnings to relevant agencies and the provincial water resources subcommittee for water management, including warning the province, districts, local media, and local people to prepare for incidents. The temporary frontline water management center will operate 24 hours a day.
Source: Thai News Agency