Thailand Braces for Heavy Rain Across Four Regions

On August 23, 2024, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasted thunderstorms and heavy rain over the next 24 hours across the northern, upper northeastern, central, and eastern regions due to a monsoon trough moving across the upper north and northern Laos, combined with the tropical storm Narra in the Tonkin Gulf and a strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the upper Gulf of Thailand. Residents in affected areas should be alert to dangers from heavy and accumulated rainfall, which may cause flash floods, flash runoff, and overflowing banks, particularly in sloped terrain near water channels and low-lying areas. The upper Andaman Sea will experience fairly strong waves of 2-3 meters high, rising above 3 meters in thunderstorm areas, while the upper Gulf of Thailand will see waves around 2 meters, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm zones. Fishermen in the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand are advised to navigate carefully and avoid thunderstorm areas; small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should stay ashore during this period. Tropical storm Narra in the Tonkin Gulf is expected to move ashore in southern Guangxi Province, China, on August 24-25, 2024, and will not enter Thailand, so it will not directly affect Thai weather; travelers to those areas should check conditions before departing. The detailed forecast includes the northern region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uthai Thani, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, and Tak provinces, with temperatures of 22-27 degrees Celsius minimum and 32-34 degrees Celsius maximum; the upper northeastern region with 40 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, and Nakhon Phanom; the central region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi; and the eastern region with 60 percent thunderstorms and heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi, and Trat, with sea waves of 2 meters and exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. The southern east coast will experience 30 percent thunderstorms mainly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani provinces, with waves 1-2 meters high offshore, rising above 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.