Phuket warned of heavy rain, flash floods for the weekend

PHUKET: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket office has issued a weather warning ahead of expected heavy rains and possible flash floods this weekend.

“We received an official weather report from the Thai Meteorological Department [TMD] today, which forecasts increasingly heavy rainfall by this weekend,” said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the DDPM Phuket office.

“Please be prepared for the possibility of flash floods around the island.”

The TMD weather forecast reported cloudy skies with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Phuket from November 8 to 10. Winds could reach up to 20-35kmh.

Mr Santhawat also issued a small boat warning, as wave are expected to reach about 2-3 meters high in areas with a likelihood of being hit by thunderstorms.

In a weather warning issued for Southern Thailand at 5pm today, the TMD explained that a low pressure cell about 550km east of Songkhla will move to the lower Southern part of Thailand over the next three days (click here).

“More rain with gusts and isolated heavy to very heavy rain are expected over the lower Chumphon [area]. People should beware of heavy and accumulate rain,” said the warning.

Waves were forecast to reach up to four meters in the Gulf of Thailand.

“All ships in the Gulf should proceed with caution and small boats keep ashore in this period,” said the report.

— Natthaphol Wittayarungrote