Flooding in Thailand should not be as bad as 2011, say experts

[webfact]

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook became the latest new organization stirring the speculation pot that Thailand and Bangkok in particular could face the same as they did in 2011 - The Great Flood.

 

But they had good news.

 

2021 is a completely different beast to 2011 when it comes to the weather and rainfall.

 

The meteorological office said that this year there had only been one decent storm so far - the one being experienced now.

 

Back in 2011 it rained all year from the start of the year and water levels built up and up until the inevitable later large scale flooding of the Chao Phraya Basin. 

 

Other experts agreed with the met office based on quantities of water at dams and reservoirs.

 

Capacity at Bhumibol and Sirikit dams was only 50% this year, very different from 2011. 

 

Though two more storms are expected this year. 

 

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[KhunBENQ]

56 minutes ago, webfact said:

Though two more storms are expected this year. 

Good they didn't forget to add.

So far there wasn't even a single high scale typhoon this year.

Just "tropical storm" and the results are still catastrophic for many.

[cyril sneer]

blue sky outside today for the first time in months, sunny forecast ahead too

 

the worst affected areas going into cold/dry season now too

 

good call by the experts

[ourmanflint]

Not as bad as 2011 but worse than every year since, 2021 is far from finished

[ukrules]

They're not very good at predictions here, the PM himself stated there would be no floods just before the rain started afew weeks back.

 

Expect the opposite of what they say.

[Soikhaonoiken]

Who do they think they are kidding,, yes the flooding was bad in 2011,  but I really think 2021 is a lot worse in parts of Thailand, and the year hasn't ended yet.. 

[madmitch]

I wonder if these are the same experts that stated there wouldn't be any flooding this year?

[klauskunkel]

from "no flooding this year" to "not as bad"

get more experts

 

[AgMech Cowboy]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Back in 2011 it rained all year from the start of the year and water levels built up and up

While the Government agencies in charge ran around kowtowing to the new Government and not paying attention to their jobs. All of a 'sudden', it was oh <deleted>, the reservoirs are full. We must open the gates and the Bangkok Governor said, not through my City and Province.

It was just an absolute failure by the bureaucrats not taking care of their business.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

They're not very good at predictions here, the PM himself stated there would be no floods just before the rain started afew weeks back.

 

Expect the opposite of what they say.

When you hear the official denials you know somethings about to happen.

[roquefort]

Tell that to the people of Chaiyaphum whse city centre is under several feet of water. I'm sure they'll be comforted by the words of experts.

[MrJ2U]

That's definitely not reassuring.

 

2011 saw some "historical" flooding.  Some areas were underwater for weeks.

 

Anything close will affect Thailand's budget already reeling from COVID-19.

 

Baht might drop more.

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

When you hear the official denials you know somethings about to happen.

Or........how can you tell officialdom is BSing or making s*it up?

When they speak.

[Sydebolle]

What a relief, not as bad as 2011.

Yet, still the same pr1cks and 1d1ots at the controls of the dams, most likely = flood recurring! 

[Bluespunk]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Though two more storms are expected this year. 

The others haven’t confirmed their RSVPs yet…

[Stupooey]

6 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

While the Government agencies in charge ran around kowtowing to the new Government and not paying attention to their jobs. All of a 'sudden', it was oh <deleted>, the reservoirs are full. We must open the gates and the Bangkok Governor said, not through my City and Province.

It was just an absolute failure by the bureaucrats not taking care of their business.

The problem in 2011 was not so much that it rained throughout the year, more the fact that the rains continued into November, by which time the reservoirs were already filled to capacity. Bangkok certainly didn't escape, only the eastern side of the city was spared as they were desperate to keep Swampy open. The difference this year seems to be that the flooding is natural rather than man-made, so it has arrived earlier in the year.

[sammieuk1]

Not as bad Submariners may say but some very deep looking violent waters from online posts today???? 

[Anant72]

10 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

While the Government agencies in charge ran around kowtowing to the new Government and not paying attention to their jobs. All of a 'sudden', it was oh <deleted>, the reservoirs are full. We must open the gates and the Bangkok Governor said, not through my City and Province.

It was just an absolute failure by the bureaucrats not taking care of their business.

Louis XV's famous word : “after me the deluge” rings very true in this country.

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, zzaa09 said:

Or........how can you tell officialdom is BSing or making s*it up?

When they speak.

Their lips are moving in sync.

[zzaa09]

So far - the flooding this season [overall] is not even close to the 2011 floods, where most of the country was underwater for months. Doesn't look like the case this year - it's nasty  for sure......but nothing in comparison. 

 

Last evening, I was watching a zoom conference [Voice TV streaming] of Thai academics analyzing the current situation with that of past historic flooding - displayed were updated satellite imagery of this month's flooding to that of 2011. Not the same.