Hazy days

PHUKET: The mysterious haze that descended on Phuket yesterday is the result of a high-pressure system centered in China and local atmospheric effects and not related to forest fires in Sumatra, the island’s top weatherman has told the Gazette.

Chumnong Chitpukdee, Director of Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) Phuket, said that low visibility along much of Thailand’s Andaman Coast was from a combination of cool temperatures and Tuesday night’s rain, which raised relative humidity to 100%. With little wind to dissipate the moisture, fog formed.

The fog could persist for the next two or three days, during which time land and sea transport should proceed with caution, he said.

“The fog will have no effect on high-season tourism,” he added inevitably.