Thailand braces for 42-degree heatwave and thunderstorms

Today’s weather forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warns of scorching heat across the country, with temperatures expected to soar as high as 42 degrees Celsius. The intense heat is accompanied by the possibility of thunderstorms and strong winds, prompting warnings for residents to avoid open spaces and be cautious of potential hazards.

The sweltering heatwave is a result of a high-pressure system caused by intense heat covering the upper part of Thailand. This meteorological situation typically results in widespread hot to very hot weather, with the added risk of isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon.

Residents are advised to take care of their health due to the extreme heat by avoiding outdoor activities for prolonged periods. The southern and southwesterly winds continue to sweep across the lower northeastern and eastern parts of the country, bringing thunderstorms and gusty winds to some areas.

People in these regions are advised to be vigilant of the dangers posed by the storms and strong winds and to steer clear of open areas, large trees, and unstable billboards during this period.

Easterly and southeasterly winds are currently blowing across the Gulf of Thailand and the south, while northwesterly winds prevail over the Andaman Sea. These conditions result in sporadic thunderstorms in the south, with dust particles and smoke haze reaching moderate to high levels in the north, the lower northeast, and the upper central regions due to the weak winds covering these areas.

The weather forecast for Thailand from 6am today until 6am tomorrow indicates that the north will experience generally hot to very hot conditions with afternoon cloud cover. The lowest temperatures range from 21 to 28 degrees Celsius, with the highest expected to reach 40 to 42 degrees Celsius. Southwesterly winds will blow at speeds of 5 to 15 kilometres per hour.

In the northeast, the weather is generally hot to very hot, with afternoon cloud cover and some thunderstorms with strong winds, particularly in the lower part of the region. The lowest temperatures range from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius, with the highest between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius, and southwesterly winds at 10 to 15 kilometres per hour.

Temperature rises

The central region is experiencing similar conditions, with the lowest temperatures at 22 to 27 degrees Celsius and the highest at 39 to 42 degrees Celsius. The southwesterly winds are stronger here, blowing at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.

The east faces generally hot weather, with cloud cover in the afternoon and very hot conditions in some areas, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds. Temperatures range from a low of 26 to 29 degrees Celsius to a high of 34 to 40 degrees Celsius, with southerly winds at 10 to 30 kilometres per hour. Seas are expected to have waves below 1 metre, but areas with thunderstorms may experience waves higher than 1 metre.

In the southern region, on the east coast, daytime weather is hot with a 10% chance of thunderstorms, mainly around Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, and Yala. The temperatures range from a low of 24 to 26 degrees Celsius to a high of 35 to 39 degrees Celsius, with southeasterly winds at 10 to 30 kilometres per hour.

In the west coast southern region, Krabi, Trang, and Satun are also experiencing hot weather with a 10% chance of thunderstorms, with similar sea conditions and temperatures ranging from 25 to 28 degrees Celsius at the lowest to 35 to 38 degrees Celsius at the highest.

Bangkok and the surrounding areas are generally hot, with afternoon cloud cover and some areas experiencing intense heat. The lowest temperatures are between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius, and the highest between 36 and 40 degrees Celsius, with southerly winds at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour, reported KhaoSod.