Thailand Warns of Heavy Rain in West, South Oct 13-18
Thailand's JICC center has warned of heavy rain across western and southern regions from October 13 to 18, with particular concern for Uthai, Phetchaburi, Krabi, Ranong, Trang and the southern border provinces. Authorities have reduced outflows from major dams such as Chao Phraya, Pasak Jolasid and Rama VI and are diverting eastward water toward the Bang Pakong River to ease pressure. Downstream water levels are falling, but officials urge close monitoring for possible flooding in the affected areas.
From the Chao Phraya Dam situation, discharge was reduced from 2,000 cubic meters per second to 1,900 cubic meters per second, as was the case for the Pasak Jolasid and Rama VI dams, and with little or no additional rain this week, downstream water volumes in Ayutthaya heading toward Pathum Thani will decline accordingly. In the western region, heavy rain downstream of the Phetchaburi dam may cause flooding in most areas, while Ratchaburi sees less rain than the previous week and steady outflow, leading to occasional overflow. In the east, water is currently concentrated in Chachoengsao for discharge into the Bang Pakong River, but release is slow due to seawater intrusion; the Irrigation Department and Royal Thai Navy have installed water‑pushing machines to speed release, and long‑term upgrades to the lower eastern Chao Phraya project and the Chao Phraya‑Pasak‑Gulf project will help. For weather from October 12 to 16, rain is expected in central northern, central, southern and western southern regions, especially Phetchaburi and the south. On October 14, heavy rain will fall in Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri and the south; from October 16 to 18 the rain will shift to both sides of the south, with the provinces at risk of heavy rain being Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Trang and the three southern border provinces, requiring close monitoring. Expert Fattha Maratsawat noted that while weekly rainfall has decreased, heavy rain persists in the south, including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satul. From October 13 to 16, rainfall increases in the western, northern, central, Bangkok and surrounding areas, while the east sees more rain and heavy downpours in some areas. Areas to watch for heavy to very heavy rain include the western central region: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Phetchaburi; Bangkok will experience intermittent heavy rain from evening to night. The south will continue to see heavy rain in many places. From October 17 to 18, rainfall is expected to taper off, but the south may still have heavy rain in some spots.
