MET: Phuket haze ‘not a load of hot air’

PHUKET: The blanket of haze seen across Phuket today was only fog and not related to Indonesian wild fires, the top official at the Thai Meteorological Department weather center in Phuket said today.

“The fog was caused by a decrease in air pressure and temperature and an increase in humidity coupled with intermittent rains, causing the air to sink,” said Wiwat Intarapanicht, director of the MET’s Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) in a report by state news agency MCOT today.

Although the resulting fog blocked out direct sunlight, visibility over land or sea was not adversely affected, and remained at about nine to 10 kilometers, Director Wiwat said.

“The MET is closely monitoring and checking air quality via satellite and will notify the public if the situation changes,” he said.

The MET’s forecast through 5pm tomorrow says the haze will remain with widely scattered thundershowers on 30% of Phuket, and up to 40% of in the surrounding provinces of Krabi, Trang, Satun, Phang Nga and Ranong.

Southwesterly winds are expected to range from 15 to 35 kilometers per hour, with wave heights reaching up to two meters.