Rising waves and heavy rain batter Thailand’s south east coast

Torrential rains have battered the southern eastern coast of Thailand, particularly in the Pattani Narathiwat region. The inclement weather has resulted in high waves in the Gulf of Thailand, rising to 3 metres. Fishermen have been warned to exercise extreme caution.

Reporters from Songkhla province noted that the sky has been heavily overcast with sporadic thunderstorms. Heavy rain persisted throughout the day and night. Some areas experienced flooding as the water could not drain fast enough, causing traffic disruptions.

Motorists were advised to be cautious due to the potential hazards caused by the slippery roads, reported KhaoSod.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in the eastern part of southern Thailand, located in Songkhla, reported that rain or thunderstorms were affecting some areas. Furthermore, heavy rain was reported in some parts of Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.

The main TMD feature is the moderate northeast monsoon which is prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand, the south and the Andaman Sea. This, combined with the high-pressure area, or mass of cool air, which is currently moderate from China, has spread to cover the upper northern part, northeastern part of Thailand, and the South China Sea.

This weather pattern is expected to continue, resulting in further heavy rain in parts of the eastern southern region. In the Gulf of Thailand, waves are estimated to be about 2 metres high. In areas experiencing thunderstorms, the waves could be higher than 2 metres.

Fishermen are advised to navigate with caution and avoid areas with thunderstorms. The eastern southern region is expected to be mostly cloudy with thunderstorms covering 40% of the area and heavy rain in some areas.

From Surat Thani province and above, the northeast wind is blowing at a speed of 15 to 35 kilometres per hour. The sea has waves of about 1 to 2 metres high. In areas with thunderstorms, the waves could be higher than 2 metres. From Nakhon Si Thammarat province and below, the easterly wind is blowing at a speed of 20 to 35 kilometres per hour.

The sea has waves of about 2 metres high. In areas with thunderstorms, the waves could be higher than 2 metres.