Cold air from China chills Thailand, heavy rain hits south
Cold air masses from China have draped over Thailand’s upper regions, bringing a chill to the air and a drop in temperatures ranging from cool to cold, especially in the mountainous areas. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forecasts that these conditions are expected to persist, impacting various regions differently.
The northern and northeastern parts of the country are experiencing cold weather, with temperatures on mountain tops dropping to frigid levels. Citizens in these areas are advised to take health precautions against the cold and be wary of potential fires due to the dry air.
The TMD forecast for today highlights heavy rainfall in the southern regions, coupled with a decrease in temperatures by 1 to 3 degrees Celsius in the upper regions. Strong northeast monsoon winds are sweeping across the Gulf of Thailand, the southern regions, and the Andaman Sea.
Although thunderstorms are expected in some areas of the south, citizens are urged to be vigilant of these storms’ potential dangers. The Gulf of Thailand is witnessing strong waves, with the lower Gulf experiencing waves reaching 2 to 3 metres high, while areas with thunderstorms may see waves exceeding 3 metres.
Upper Gulf waves are estimated at around 2 metres, and the Andaman Sea sees waves at approximately 1 metre high. In areas away from the coast and where thunderstorms are present, waves could exceed 2 metres. Mariners in these regions are advised to navigate with caution, and small boats in the lower Gulf should refrain from venturing out at this time.
Air quality concerning dust and smog in upper Thailand remains within moderate levels. The accumulation of dust particles is expected to remain steady due to moderate ventilation rates.
Weather forecast
In the north, the weather is cold to cold with morning fog, and temperatures are expected to decrease slightly. The lowest temperatures range from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius, while the highest range from 29 to 33 degrees Celsius.
Mountain tops are experiencing cold to very cold weather, with frost occurring in some areas and temperatures ranging from 5 to 11 degrees Celsius. Winds are blowing from the east at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
The northeastern region is also experiencing cold to cold weather with temperatures ranging from 12 to 18 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 29 to 31 degrees Celsius at the highest. Mountain tops in this region are cold with temperatures between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius, with winds from the northeast at 10 to 25 kilometres per hour.
In the central region, the weather is cool in the morning with temperatures ranging from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 31 to 32 degrees Celsius at the highest. Winds from the northeast are moving at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
The eastern region experiences cool morning weather, with temperatures ranging from 19 to 22 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 31 to 34 degrees Celsius at the highest. Northeast winds are moving at 15 to 30 kilometres per hour, with sea waves reaching about 1 metre high and up to 2 metres offshore.
In the southern region (east coast), the upper part is cool in the morning with 20% of the area experiencing thunderstorms, mainly in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Yala, and Narathiwat. Temperatures range from 20 to 25 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 30 to 32 degrees Celsius at the highest.
Winds from the northeast blow at 20 to 35 kilometres per hour, with sea waves approximately 2 metres high and exceeding 2 metres in thunderstorm areas. In the southern part (west coast), 10% of the area is experiencing thunderstorms, mainly in Phang Nga, Krabi, and Trang, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 25 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 30 to 33 degrees Celsius at the highest.
Northeast winds move at speeds of 15 to 35 kilometres per hour, with sea waves about 1 metre high and 1 to 2 metres offshore, exceeding 2 metres in thunderstorm areas, reported KhaoSod.
Bangkok and its vicinity experience cool weather in the morning, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 22 degrees Celsius at the lowest and 31 to 34 degrees Celsius at the highest. Northeast winds blow at speeds of 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
