Rains to continue

PHUKET: The island can expect one or two more days of occasional heavy rain due to “rather strong” monsoonal conditions along Thailand’s entire Andaman coast, government weathermen have predicted.

According to a forecast issued at 11 am this morning, about 80% of the southwest coast will experience thundershowers over the 24-hour period starting at noon today, with heavy rainfall in some areas.

Chumnong Chitpukdee, Director Of the Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast), which issued the report, told the Gazette that conditions will likely remain unchanged for the next one or two days.

Winds will be from the southwest, with speeds of 20- 40kmh. Small craft are advised not to set out to sea and shipping should proceed with caution, the report warns. Wave heights are expected to be 2-3 meters.

Some 5 centimeters of rain are expected to fall during the period.