Weather Warning

[Jai Dee]

Warning

"Cold over Upper Thailand."

An intense high pressure system from China has extended its ridge to further cover Thailand. Colder weather with 1-3 °C drop and windy are expected in the areas including Bangkok Metropolis and Vicinity.

Rather active low pressure cell covers upper Malaysia and lower southern Thailand and strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the Andaman Sea.

People in the risky areas from Songkhla southward should beware of heavy rain and flooding conditions while people along southern east coast from Prachuap Khiri Khan southwards should careful high wave with wave height 2-4 meters in the Gulf and 2-3 offshore in the Andaman Sea.

All ships proceed with caution and small ships keep ashore during this period.

Source: Thai Meteorological Department - 8 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Mercury drops to 2 - 6 degrees on northern mountains

Cold weather continue in northern and northeastern provinces Monday with lowest temperatures about 2 to 9 Celsius degrees due to a high pressure ridge, the Meteorological Department announced.

The department said the powerful high pressure from China covers the northern and northeastern regions.

It says the lowest temperatures on mountaintops in northern provinces range between 2 to 6 degrees and the lowest temperatures on top of mountains in northeastern provinces are between 5 to 9 degrees.

The lowest temperature in Bangkok is about 20 degrees.

Source: The Nation - 8 December 2007

[Scott]

This is good news for Bangkok. Hope those up North do OK and those in the South don't get flooded out.

[Jai Dee]

Heavy rain causes flash flood in Yala Province

Heavy rain has been reportedly causing flash floods in Yala (ยะลา) Province. Districts including Yaha (ยะหา) and Raman (รามัน) have been submerged with water.

Cold air massess have crept into the southern region of Thailand. The gulf of Thailand has been simultaneously influenced by the northeastern monsoon and the air cold mass. Southeastern region starting from Surathani (สุราษฎร์ธานี) will be faced with heavy rain, waves are expected to be as high as 2-4 meters.

Mr. Suppanut Siruntawineti (ศุภนัฐ สิรัญทวิเนติ), Yaha district chief in Yala Province, said that flash floods had gutted the district last night, adding that the water level in some areas have reached as high as 80 centimeters. He said that all residents have been evacuated. Local agencies have been assigned to provide primary assistance to those in urgent needs.

As for Raman District, riverbank of Saiburi (สายบุรี) River has been overflown with water, flooding nearby areas. Bridges have been damaged, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Phatthalung residents in flatlands and risky areas have been warned of possible flood

Phatthalung Governor Suthep Komonphamon (สุเทพ โกมลภมร) has warned residents in flatlands and risky areas of possible flood.

Mr. Suthep said cold weather is covering the Gulf of Thailand, causing heavy to very heavy rainfall in many areas including Phatthalung. Therefore, he would like people who are living on flat lands and high-risk areas to be careful of potential forest flood and flash flood during the next few days. They are asked to closely follow the weather reports. He said 28 villages in Khao Banthat of Phatthalung have been declared as mudslide-prone areas.

As for the assistance measures, the governor said Phatthalung has set up a special center to help the flood victims.

People who need assistance can contact the center or Phatthalung City Hall at 0-7461-1652 and 0-7462-0300 around the clock.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

A fisherman sits near a sign warning of strong winds and powerful waves as he gazes out to the sea at Songkhla. Many local fishing boats are sheltering in Koh Noo and Koh Maew because of the 3-4 metre swell.

Source: The Nation - 9 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

King worried about erosion

His Majesty the King is very concerned about the impact of strong waves on the Gulf coast and has instructed related agencies to search for long-term solutions to prevent erosion, the secretary-general of the Royal Development Projects Board said yesterday.

Following a meeting with state agencies on the problem, Sompol Panmanee said His Majesty was concerned about the big waves that had hit people's homes and government facilities along the south-east coastline.

His Majesty's Private Affairs Division officials were ordered to inspect the damage in a bid to find long-term solutions and provide affected residents with aid granted by HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, he said.

The Marine Department had been assigned to build an 80-metre-long dam to block strong waves 100 metres inland to strengthen beaches in areas with problems in Nakhon Si Thammarat - from Ban Na Saton village in Hua Sai district to Ban Na Khot village in Pak Phanang district.

Construction would begin this year with a Bt365 million budget, Sompol said.

Officials were now studying further structures to stop erosion to structures from Ban Na Khot to Ban Laem Talumpuk, he said.

The next step would be moves by the Marine and Coastal Resources Department to help formulate a three-phase plan, including short-term aid to severely-hit areas and a mid-term plan to solve problems in severely-eroded areas by growing mangroves and coastal forests.

The long-term plan would be getting help from related agencies for a strategic plan to sustainably and continuously prevent and reduce coastal erosion, he said.

There was also a project to build the Uthokwipak Prasitthi Water Gate to reduce the shortage of fresh water, and combat floods in Pak Phanang. Four canals would be dug to drain floodwater quickly in the event of disasters.

And to prevent saltwater inflow to farmlands, earthen dikes would be built to separate freshwater along the eastern coast and Pak Phanang Bay's north-east. The project would benefit over 480,000 rai of farmland, he said.

Source: The Nation - 9 January 2007

[Jai Dee]

Yala hit as Sai Buri overflows

The Sai Buri River overflowed and inundated 10 homes and put another 60 houses at risk in Yala's Krong Pinang district, prompting officials to prepare to evacuate villagers, a local official said yesterday.

Yala disaster chief Samreung Vongmaneevorn said that due to the northeastern monsoon over the Gulf, continuous downpours have caused parts of the Sai Buri River to flood 10 homes in Krong Pinang while the other 60 houses were on the verge of being submerged.

Some riverside areas of tambon Yaha and La Ae in Yaha district were also flooded but the damage was still being assessed, he said, while 300 families in flood-prone spots in Raman district were on flood alert, and the Yala-Betong Highway number 410 was put on landslide watch.

Meanwhile, the Phatthalung disaster office has ordered a 24-hour watch for landslides and flooding in 28 villages near the Banthat Mountain Range in Kong Ra district and Sri Nakarin sub-district, after three consecutive days of heavy rain.

In Narathiwat, Thai navy officers rescued 200 more fishermen at sea, after their small trawlers sank offshore due to strong winds and high waves. They also helped two trawlers drifting back to port. Among the rescued fishermen were two men with head injuries.

Source: The Nation - 9 January 2007

[In the Rai!]

As for the cold up North. Havent seen much of it of late. Bloody hazy though

[Jai Dee]

Chumporn warns local residents of Northeastern monsoon

Chumporn Province warns local residents of the Northeastern monsoon which has led to waves of 2-4 meters high. Small boats should be kept ashore from 9-10 January.

Chumporn Governor Phinai Anantaphong (พินัย อนันตพงศ์) reveals the monsoon is now blowing over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The provinces in the upper part of the Southern region, starting from Chumporn to Narathiwat, are under the influence of the monsoon.

The governor suggests that commercial and tourist boat operators should be kept abreast of weather forecasts from the Meteorological Department until the monsoon has weakened.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 January 2007

[Sing_Sling]

The cold weather has stopped our bio-diesel production 'stone-cold' . . . even the petrol-station diesel has started becoming gelatin-like . . . makes you wonder about the quality of the stuff when bio-diesel has about the same cold-filter-plugging-point as petro-diesel.

Floods, near freezing . . . it's been a tough few months.

[Jai Dee]

Department of Mineral Resources will help find a plan to protect coastal areas from strong waves

The Department of Mineral Resources will coordinate with involved agencies in developing a plan to protect the coastal areas from being pounded by strong waves.

His Majesty the King has expressed his concern over the eastern coastal areas that have been affected by strong winds and waves. HM the King has advised involved units to determine a strategy to protect these lands in the long run.

Mineral Resources Department Director-General Apichai Chawacharoenphan said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Kasem Sanitwong Na Ayutthayahas assigned his department to work with the Marine Resources Department in gathering the information on this matter. The agencies will study whether permanent constructions can be built on certain geographical areas to ensure that complications would not follow such as land erosion.

Mr. Apichai said academics and experts have to conduct a study in great length and see what appropriate measures can be done to protect the coastal areas effectively.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 January 2007