Meteorology Department Predicts Cooler, Wetter Summer

[george]

Meteorology department predicts cooler, wetter summer

BANGKOK: -- It's summertime, and the weather is -- well, cooler than expected as cold winds from China have brought unseasonal rain and somewhat cooler weather.

The director general of the Meteorological Department said Monday that the rains would arrive sooner and would stay longer this year as the country has been under the influence of cold winds from China and the seasonal monsoon.

Suparerk Tansriratanawong said all regions except southern Thailand would be affected, during which time the rains would continue until May and the seasonal rainy season will arrive sooner than usual.

Thailand has seen higher than expected levels of rain during this hot summer month, which Mr. Suphareuk said was quite unusual, especially in the North, the Northeast, the East and the central plains provinces.

He said however, the overcast weather would not cause flooding but he warned persons living in or near potentially unstable buildings to be watchful.

He said because of 'La Nina' in the Pacific and thick clouds over the country, Bangkok would not suffer its hottest day on April 23 as earlier predicted.

--TNA 2006-04-17