WEATHER
Snow claim kicks up storm among weathermen
Pongphon Sarnsamak,
Prapaporn Kruengew,
Anan Wijitpracha
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- There is no chance it will snow in Thailand soon, as meteorological conditions and the low altitude of most of the country would not permit it, experts said yesterday.

Their prediction came in the wake of speculation that the Kingdom could see snow following a sharp drop in temperatures across the country, and snowfalls in Egypt and Vietnam in the past few days.

"At best we can see frozen dewdrops on high mountains like Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai," National Disaster Warning Centre director Group Captain Somsak Khaosuwan said yesterday.

However, the leader of a people's network that handles emergency situations, Piyacheep Vatcharobol, disagrees. He claimed yesterday there was a 90-per-cent chance that mountaintops 1,500 meters above sea level would experience snow. Average temperatures there would drop to -5 to -10 degrees Celsius, Piyacheep said.

Such mountaintop snow - possibly this month and in January - would result from an approaching "Little Ice Age" and reversal of the Earth's magnetic field, which had last taken place 800,000 years ago. Because of these factors, the world now saw snow in Egypt, Vietnam and Laos, said Piyacheep.

However, Somchai Baimoung, a meteorological expert, explained that there are three factors that contribute to generating snow: humidity, temperature and atmospheric lifting. Even though the temperatures in some parts of Thailand, especially in the high mountain areas, are falling below zero Celsius, there is no atmospheric lifting condition in Thailand. Moreover, the altitude of Thailand is not correct for the generation of snow.

"There is no chance for Thailand to have snow," he insisted.

He explained the generation of snow is not related to the phenomenon of the so-called " magnetic reversal of the Earth".

Somchai said that snow in Egypt is not new. There are records of snowfalls in this country 100 years ago. Also, snow has fallen in Vietnam in locations at high altitude and with enough humidity and sufficiently low temperatures to generate it.

"The falling of snow in Vietnam is not surprising," Somchai said.

Somsak explained the temperature in Thailand has dropped because a cold air mass from China still covers the country. This cold air cannot pass through to the sea because it is blocked by a low-pressure trough floating over the southern regions.

The Meteorological Department yesterday forecast for upper Thailand a temperature drop of another 2-3 degrees Celsius in the next three to four days. With more rain predicted for southern Thailand, the department has urged ships at sea to take caution due to strong winds and high waves.

The cold spell has been blamed for two separate deaths yesterday in Pathum Thani's Lat Lum Kaew district. Worker Khampan Khamkren, 40, reportedly had drinks with friends before going to bed without a shirt and was found dead at 3am. Another worker, Chalard Onndondo, 50, was also found shirtless and dead at 4.30am in his bedroom.


-- The Nation 2013-12-19

The moral of this story is don't go to bobos without a shirt....

Such mountaintop snow - possibly this month and in January - would result from an approaching "Little Ice Age" and reversal of the Earth's magnetic field, which had last taken place 800,000 years ago.[\quote] this guy knows stuff others don't, we should listen to him.

"However, the leader of a people's network that handles emergency situations, Piyacheep Vatcharobol, disagrees. He claimed yesterday there was a 90-per-cent chance that mountaintops 1,500 meters above sea level would experience snow. Average temperatures there would drop to -5 to -10 degrees Celsius, Piyacheep said."

Think I'll go with the weatherman on this one.

"There is no chance for Thailand to have snow," he insisted.

So, I still need to contact my local pusher for a white Christmas.

I think Piyacheep should get a job with the Daily Express.

For those non-Brits who don't know this paper, with the utmost regularity it provides "shock, horror" headlines about the weather in UK, e.g. "heatwave coming in BBQ summer!" or "coldest winter for 100 years forecast", and invariably it is wrong. But people still buy this rag and don't seem to mind the inaccuracy of its forecasts. In fact, there seems to be a large market for inaccuracy about weather and climate predictions in the West, as much as Thailand.

"There is no chance for Thailand to have snow," he insisted.

So, I still need to contact my local pusher for a white Christmas.

Ah, Californian Snow, edgy humour there.

I can see TAT making a media release, Tourists flocking to Thailand for the snow season.

^^^TAT's campaign "Snow Have".

Magnetic reversal, little ice ages? Snow is produced the same way as rain (only colder at ground level), ie, rain clouds and as soon as you have them there is less heat loss to space thus temperature goes up and hence no snow. It doesn't just snow because it is colder. lol

Latest report is that TAT are going to do a media blitz in the next day or so promoting skiing holidays in the North of Thailand, an Asian version of the Alps apparently, and a free bag of rice to anyone that comes.

What a load of old tosh. A picture of a bit of hoar frost on a few blades of grass and Thailand panics.

Such mountaintop snow - possibly this month and in January - would result from an approaching "Little Ice Age" and reversal of the Earth's magnetic field, which had last taken place 800,000 years ago.[\quote] this guy knows stuff others don't, we should listen to him.

He saw the movie " ice age, 1,2 and 3 !!!!

"Snow? What is snow?" - Yul Brynner, as King Rama 4, in the American musical, The King and I. It has never snowed in Thailand, so why would anyone predict snow in Thailand?

It has never snowed in Thailand, so why would anyone predict snow in Thailand?

It has snowed in Thailand but not since the 1940s or so...

Magnetic reversal, little ice ages? Snow is produced the same way as rain (only colder at ground level), ie, rain clouds and as soon as you have them there is less heat loss to space thus temperature goes up and hence no snow. It doesn't just snow because it is colder. lol

Ah but this farang snow talking about, Thai snow not same same, when will farang understrand Thailand not same as their own countries

Latest report is that TAT are going to do a media blitz in the next day or so promoting skiing holidays in the North of Thailand, an Asian version of the Alps apparently, and a free bag of rice to anyone that comes.

Asian version of the Alps.....! Not good enough......... in 90 days Thailand will be regional hub for skiing holidays

"There is no chance for Thailand to have snow," he insisted.

So, I still need to contact my local pusher for a white Christmas.

........... Thanks Joe .......... There goes the coffee again .....

Don't know about snow in Thailand, but just about every government proclamatiom looks like a snow job to me.

I can see TAT making a media release, Tourists flocking to Thailand for the snow season.

I have heard that TAT is requesting the winter Olympics be held here.

HUB FLASH: Thailand to become hub of SE Asia ski industry

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Certainly plenty of ICE around .................

When I was teaching a regular question was had I seen snow then the students would assure how much they would " Luuvv " to see it.

Looks of disbelief and disappointment when i explained it might look good but ... !

Imagine Thais trying to drive in conditions of ice and snow ? No, don't want to think about it.

I keep telling my Thai friends that if they ever go to Canada, watch out for the special "yellow" snow. I tell them it's a unique lemon flavour that is very rare.

Oddly enough, most of them don't believe me for some reason !

I guess the Thai traffic moral doesn't miss too much snow. You can imagine ..... the half part of country would be died same day

So that will be your Global warming then.

Can't wait for the "Thailand to become Snow Hub" announcements.

Bugger it ! Sombat just discovered that his "Invincibility Tattoos" don't cover hyperthermia .

Oh Mr Fish! Mr Fish!

We need a good meteorologist in Thailand!

What a load of old tosh. A picture of a bit of hoar frost on a few blades of grass and Thailand panics.

EXACTLY !!!-------- At least someone has a little bit of sense

"LaLaLa let it snow,let it snow,let it snow la la la---------- hahaha

That's called frost; seen in the mornings and gone by sun-up. Snow is completely different Thai people. Come to Canada, I'd be happy to show you the difference!