Tropical storm may bring heavy weather

PHUKET: Tropical storm Muifa, which took the lives of at least 65 people when it passed over the Philippines last weekend, is in the Gulf of Thailand and the storm center is expected to make landfall around Surat Thani or Nakhon Sri Thammarat early tomorrow morning.

Vichit Phuangsombat, Director of the Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast) told the Gazette that Muifa would generate waves of 3 to 5 feet in the Gulf and advised fishing vessels to stay in port.

Inland, heavy downpours could also produce flooding in some areas.

The effect on Phuket, Phang Nga and Ranong is likely to be less severe, but there may be unseasonally rough seas, strong winds and heavy rain.

Mariners along the upper Andaman Coast are advised to exercise caution and ensure they take adequate safety equipment with them if going to sea in the next few days, he said.

The storm track and satellite images, which show the system’s outer bands approaching Phuket, can be viewed here