Tropical storm strikes Lampang's train and horse fair



BANGKOK: -- Tropical storm created havoc to Lampang’s annual 15th trains and horse carriage fair with torrential rainstorm blowing off several exhibit tents and makeshift vendor stalls and forcing tourists and locals to run away for fear of danger from flying debris.

The sudden torrential storm lashed the town at about 8.00 p.m. Wednesday night while thousands of tourists and local were visiting the fair ground at the Nakhon Lampang railway station.

As the storm became stronger and some tents and vendor stalls were blown to the ground by turbulent wind, visitors and vendors alike have to run for cover for fear of being hit by flying billboards, debris and objects,.

The incident lasted half an hour later with the fair ground leaving with no visitors except fallen tents, and other debris.

The storm also knocked several power poles and blacked out electricity in Ban Kokchum, Pa Laew, Ban Srichupabhai in the municipal area.

Adjacent districts such as Kho Kha, Thoen also reported damages by the tropical storm last night.

The annual train and horse carriage fair is normally held at the beginning of April to commemorate the first royal train that arrived to the station 1 April, 1916.

In the event, there will be an exhibition and Kat Mua market, where the participants will dress up in the traditional style of costume of some 80 years ago, when the horse carriage was first used in Lampang.

The carriage service is also provided in the event.

Earlier the Meteorological Department warned of torrential tropical storm as the result of the moving down of a high pressure system to blanket the upper part of the country during April 3-6 while the country is under warm to warmest environment.

Such combination of extreme warm and cool environment will result in torrential and heavy thunder storms and hails in the northern region during Aprl 5-6.

People living in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit and Phetchabun are warned of expected storms and dangers from unstable structures and flying objects such as billboards and trees.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tropical-storm-strikes-lampangs-train-horse-fair/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-03

The incident lasted half an hour later with the fair ground leaving with no visitors except fallen tents, and other debris.

What?

I'll watch out for those flying billboards and trees then!

Tropical storms predicted this Spring

I posted copies of the strong wind warning to friends in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

The replied and told me they hadn't heard any mention of it.

Wednesday afternoon a big wind and a few drops of rain hit the Chang Puek/Santhitam part of Chiang Mai, lasted 20 minutes and was gone. Temperatures dropped a very few degrees,a nd then crept back up to previous levels (high 30 C's). This morning the smoky pall laid even heavier on the city than before. Unofficial observation here.

PS: So much fine grit has been laid down lately that the wind really kicks it up. Hard on the eyes.

same here,the big blow heading fron esaan at weekend

http://www.tmd.go.th/en/

nice to live in Phrae.only a little rain downtown this evening.