Wet monsoon blast warning for Phuket, Andaman coast

PHUKET: The 24-hour forecast, issued by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued at noon today, predicts waves as high as four meters along Phuket beaches, as well as strong winds.

The southwesterly monsoon winds are expected to reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour.

The TMD also issued a flash-flood warning at 4am today and advises all small craft to remain ashore.

The warning applies to Phuket, Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang.

Cool onshore breezes are also expected to keep the daily-high temperature below 30º Celsius, a rarity in tropical Phuket.

Heavy wind gusts have caused power outages across the region, with blackouts for several hours reported in areas of Krabi.

The TMD monitoring station in Phuket Town recorded 26.8 millimeters of rain yesterday, while the station at Phuket International Airport recorded 26.0mm.

The synoptic situation at 7am recorded a “strong” southwestern monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea and the Southern Thailand West Coast, resulting in very cloudy conditions with thundershowers over 70 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain across the region.

The seven-day forecast for the region calls for widespread rain for almost the whole week, with heavy to very heavy rainfall in some areas.

— Orawin Narabal