Today Thailand’s Meteorological Department warned people in 55 northern, north-eastern, central and eastern provinces to prepare for possible “strong winds and hail from summer storms”, that are expected through until Sunday. This time of the year is also know as the bridging season between the annual dry and wet seasons. Weather can be unsettled in parts of thailand during this time.

According to the forecast, the storms are due to the convergence of southerly and south-easterly winds, driven by the cold front over Vietnam, Laos and the South China Sea, and the increasingly warm weather over northern Thailand.

Summer storms, some severe, could affect the following provinces from today…

• Nan
• Phrae
• Uttradit
• Tak
• Kamphaeng Phet
• Sukhothai
• Phitsanuloke
• Phichit
• Phetchabun
• Loei
• Nong Bua Lamphu
• Nong KhaiBung Karn
• Udon Thani
• Sakhon Nakhon
• Nakhon Phanom
• Chaiyaphum
• Khon Kaen
• Kalasin
• Muk Dahan
• Maha Sarakham Roi-et
• Yasothon Amnat Charoen
• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Buri Ram
• Surin
• Si Sa Ket
• Ubon Ratchathani
• Nakhon Sawan
• Lop Buri
• Saraburi
• Ayutthaya
• Bangkok
• Nakhon Nayok
• Prachin Buri
• Sa Kaew
• Chachoengsao
• Chon Buri
• Rayong
• Chanthaburi

On Saturday and Sunday, the storms are forecast in:

• Chiang Mai
• Lamphun
• Lampang
• Phayao
• Phrae
• Uttradit
• Sukhothai
• Tak
• Kamphaeng Phet
• Phitsanuloke
• Phichit
• Phetchabun
• Roi-et
• Loei
• Nong Bua Lamphu
• Nong Khai
• Bung Karn
• Udon Thani
• Sakhon Nakhon
• Nakhon Phanom
• Muk Dahan
• Chaiyaphum
• Kalasin
• Khon Kaen
• Maha Sarakham
• Roi-et
• Yasothon
• Amnat Charoen
• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Buri Ram
• Surin
• Si Sa Ket
• Ubon Ratchathani
• Uthai Thani
• Nakhon Sawan
• Lop Buri
• Chainat
• Ang Thong
• Sing Buri
• Saraburi
• Ayutthaya
• Bangkok
• Nakhon Nayok
• Prachin Buri
• Sa Kaeo
• Chachoengsao
• Chon Buri
• Rayong
• Chanthaburi
• Trat

The weather department says people should beware of severe weather and keep off unsecured buildings and wilderness areas. Farmers should beware of crop damage. Ships at sea should proceed with caution and watch the forecast in their area..

SOURCE: Thai PBS World

The start of the annual wet season isn’t far away, maybe this month, but Thailand’s water sources are running on empty.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported today, that Thailand has seen a large drop of useable water in dams and reservoirs by an average of 30% of their capacity, due to the lack of rain in the first three months of the year.

“21 dams in provinces of Lampang, Tak, Uttaradit, Chiang Mai, Uthai Thani, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Buriram, Suphan Buri, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Chonburi and Rayong have reported critically low water levels. Meanwhile, 187 reservoirs nationwide also reported water levels at below 30% including 50 reservoirs in the North, 100 in the Northeast, 33 in Central and four in the South.”

“It is expected that 6,065 villages in 139 districts and 714 subdistricts are currently being affected by the drought.”

So far there have been reports that 23 provinces declared as drought areas requiring emergency financial support by the Ministry of Finance. These provinces include Phayao, Nan, Chiang Rai, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phetchaboon, Uthai Thani, Nongkhai, Nakhon Sawan, Beung Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mahasarakham, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Chaiyaphum, Sisaket, Chainat, Kanjanaburi, Suphanburi, Chachoengsao, and Prachinburi.

Phuket reservoirs are also at critically low levels, only surviving because of the drop in tourists to the island since January.

Songkran, the Thai New Year, on April 13, is usually the annual celebration of the end of the country’s hot season and the start of the annual wet season. The formal celebrations for Songkran have been postponed by the Thai government.

SOURCE: The Nation

A thermal low still covers upper Thailand, while southerly and southeasterly winds prevail over the Northeast and the East regions. Thailand is now in the ‘shoulder’ season, between the dry season and wet season, which is set to kick in sometime in April. (Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai 5 day forecasts below)

Chiang Mai is poised for another week of scorchers, each day predicted to be over 40C.

“Hot conditions still prevail over most of upper Thailand and very hot weather is forecast for parts of the North, the Northeast and the Central regions,” according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

“Thundershowers and gusty winds are forecast for the Northeast and the East. People should beware of severe weather and keep off unsecured buildings and wilderness areas. Farmers should beware of crop damage.”

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

Northern region: Hot to very hot; temperature lows of 18-25℃ and highs of 38-41℃.

Northeastern region: Hot to very hot with thundershowers in some areas; lows of 22-26℃ and highs of 36-40℃.

Central region: Hot to very hot; temperature lows of 24-26℃, highs of 37-40℃.

Eastern region: Hot with thundershowers and gusty winds in 10% of the areas; lows of 25-28℃, highs of 33-38℃; waves a metre high.

Southern region (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10% of the areas; lows of 23-27℃, highs of 33-36 ℃; waves a metre high.

Southern region (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10% of the areas; lows of 24-26℃, highs of 35-38℃; waves a metre high, higher offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot during the day; lows of 26-27℃, highs of 34-39℃.

Bangkok’s 5 day forecast…

Phuket’s 5 day forecast…

Chiang Mai‘s 5 day forecast (yikes!)…

SOURCE: The Nation | Weather.com