Bangkok Residents, Whats Your Prognosis For The Flooding In Rainy Seaon This Year?

[sbk]

I plan on flying in during Bangkok's rainy season and had hoped to get some things done . Given the rain this year, do you think the rainy season is going to have heavy floods, or do you think the BMA has done enough to keep things cleared and that it won't be so bad this year?

[OnNutter]

I plan on flying in during Bangkok's rainy season and had hoped to get some things done . Given the rain this year, do you think the rainy season is going to have heavy floods, or do you think the BMA has done enough to keep things cleared and that it won't be so bad this year?

Who can say, nature is so unpredictable. The flooding always seems worst when the river tide is high, thus causing run off problems due to Bangkoks closeness to sea level, klongs having been filled in have not helped the natural drainage of the city. I accept that at times there may be problems with movement around certain parts of the city and plan for that eventuality...and if I can't, then it doen't happen...so is life!

[sbk]

Yes, I realize that. But I was under the impression the BMA had done some flood control planning and work in the city?

[webfact]

Yes, I realize that. But I was under the impression the BMA had done some flood control planning and work in the city?

I live near Taksin bridge. Preparation for flood prevention measures are not in progress yet. Maybe in other areas.

Only the usual sandbags could be seen.

Edited July 11, 2009 by webfact

[Indo-Siam]

The "unwinnable" situation occurs when three things happen at once:

1. Rivers rise from heavy rains up-country, several days earlier

2. High tide rolls in from the sea

3 Heavy rain falls on Bangkok for several hours

When these three conditions coincide, nothing done by mere mortals will ever prevent flooding up to 12-15 cm of depth. There is simply nowhere for water to be pumped to.

Some years, this situation never really happens at full force - and peak "flooding" is 6-8 cm - below curb level on the streets.

But - every few years - the perfect storm situation develops.

In nine years living in Bangkok, I have never yet seen flood level persist even as long as 24 hours, in the Sukhumvit/Silom/Ratchadapisek area. This is mainly because ocean "flood tide" inevitably recedes within 12 hours - allowing water to drain to the sea.

Cheers!

Indo-Siam

[trogers]

Bring along your rubber dinghy!

[sbk]

Wonder if a rubber dinghy will fit in my suitcase?

cheers indo, for the explanation, and sorry to hear that nothing much is being done webfact. I had thought that maybe they'd finally get organized. silly me

[quiksilva]

Flooding in Bangkok still happens but it seems to me that it has improved greatly over the past 12 years that I have been here.

As the other poster said I haven't seen Sukhumvit at knee depth for quite some time now.. the flood waters rescind quite quickly compared to how it was...

I can recall 10 ish years ago a day when a bow wave of a passing pick up would break over my bonnet before crashing on to the wind screen, now at most it goes an inch or two above the kerb, so yes its much better now.

Edited July 13, 2009 by quiksilva

[lopburi3]

There has not been real rain flooding for decades. Heavy rains can cause disruptions for a few hours but that is about all. And we had several days of heavy rain in the last couple of weeks with no apparent flooding so klongs must be clear. There was river area flooding about 12 years ago but even that was limited to the immediate area in most places. Actually the last several days have felt like April weather, with 35 (feel like 40) at Don Muang yesterday. You might get your feet wet but other than that should not be a problem.

[wpcoe]

As the other poster said I haven't seen Sukhumvit at knee depth for quite some time now.. the flood waters rescind quite quickly compared to how it was...

Yeah, the have this cool new subway system to drain the waters.