Erratic weather across Thailand despite dropping river levels

[webfact]

Erratic weather across nation despite dropping river levels

 

CHAINAT, 27 February 2017 (NNT) – Erratic weather has begun to be reported across the nation, especially in the lower north and northeast where rains have taken place alongside lower temperatures and dropping levels in waterways. 

The Chao Phraya River, as measured in Chainat province, dropped 17 centimeters in the span of 24 hours and is now standing at around 14.75 meters deep, below the needed standard of 15 meters. While authorities have assured the situation is yet to pose any harm, they have warned against building any structures on the river shore at this time as they may be under threat of erosion. 

Meanwhile in Sakon Nakhon province, strong winds and thundershowers have been reported with damages to 19 homes. Military personnel have been dispatched to perform repairs. 

The Meteorological Department has reported that the lower north, northeast and central regions, including Bangkok, will face heavy rain and winds during this period with temperatures to drop by another 2-4 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the harsh weather will kick up waves in the Gulf of Thailand, posing a risk to fishing boats. 

As well, Mae Hong Son’s Natural Resources and Environment Office has indicated particulate levels in the air over the province have exceeded standard rates, urging citizens to desist from engaging in outdoor activities and to wear face masks when appropriate. Officials in the province have ordered a stop to the burning of materials throughout March.

 

-- nnt 2017-02-27

[PatOngo]

Weather is not the only thing erratic in the nation!

[fruitman]

Would be nice if the weather radar website worked properly...many times it's hanging so we have to check the time of the images all the time.

 

http://weather.tmd.go.th/bma_ncLoop.php

[cliveshep]

I've been here 18 months now and noticed last year's drought with concern for my new farmer friend as his rice yield was apparently way down from normal. Also I remember the floods of 2011 before my wife came to the UK, her home had a metre of water in it and I had to pay to get her family relocated to Kanchanaburi for 3 months. So when it rained this last time I was naturally concerned about water management with all the talk about floods, although we are in a safe area, it only had 250mm of water last time that would not have hurt our house.

 

The government kept saying "don't worry, its all under control" but in the UK they say don't believe anything until it has been officially denied so I did wonder?

 

Then the news announced that they were shutting in the dam of Nahkon Nayok as it was 20% full, until then they had been allowing the water to run away apparently.

 

But it hasn't rained hardly at all since. 

 

A week or so later it was reported that it might flood in Bangkok, and as a precaution all the canal levels would be lowered right down to accommodate the coming flood waters - except they never came!

 

Now the canals round here were almost empty a week ago, but the level has risen about a foot so presumably some water has been released from the dam as there was hardly anything for the farmers to pump onto the rice fields and the canals were becoming stinking weed-filled ditches around here.

 

So as I have no experience I was wondering if we will be short of water again this year or will the erratic weather of this post save the day? Or if Nahkon Nayok was only at 20% when they shut it in and there has been little or no rain of any consequence since - where does the needed water come from? Is this a normal pattern in Thailand?

[worgeordie]

"where rains have taken place alongside lower temperatures and dropping levels in waterways. "so it rains and dropping water levels happen, that does not make much sense.

regards worgeordie

[AGareth2]

my Mayong Chit is flowering!

Not usual at this time of year in Bangkok

[overherebc]

36 minutes ago, fruitman said:

Would be nice if the weather radar website worked properly...many times it's hanging so we have to check the time of the images all the time.

 

http://weather.tmd.go.th/bma_ncLoop.php

Have a look at   'windyty'   on google.

You can check  wind  rain  seawave height etc.

[Speedo1968]

Where I live south of Khon Kaen on the outskirts of a small town and seems to have its own micro - climate.

Wind ( cool - cold - dry - no sand like last year but fine dust ) everyday  of the China desert, dry ( low RH ).

For 3 months there was no rain, apart from a splatter for 10 minutes one morning.

Nearly at the end of the 4th month and a half hour of rain a couple of days ago has vanished.

Temps already had been hitting 36C, nights cool / cold, one night very warm, now after the rain day temps down to 24 / 26C. 

People still dithering about clearing blocked water flow channels to the drains or like last year ( s ) doing nothing, but will be moaning when the road is closed or having to wade thru snake infested water.

 

The local "pond" was flash flooded with pig s... from a local farm last year and people to continue to dump waste, which is then bulldozed making the pond smaller and smaller.    It was, I think, originally fed from an underground  spring - not no more !

 

The local "common land" where buffalo wallowed, is slowly having the wallows filled with waste from cement trucks clearing out their tanks at the end of the day.

 

The rubbish, even " the local school and scout" trips that visit and sit in the field leave all their waste strewn everywhere.

 

I have been in Thailand 17 years and here where I live now for four years, have seen a rubbish free pleasant area turned in to a tip.   So sad but so like Thailand of today.

[Thailand]

"Officials in the province have ordered a stop to the burning of materials throughout March. "

 

That's going to happen - not! 

[poohy]

We live in the countryside actually litter not much of a problem ..........until  you go about 1km the road, guess what, a school and the litter around there is amazing, mind you i know one of the local teachers and hes hardly an intellectual beacon i am surprised he can find his way to school, so picking up litter or even warning of littering is way beyond him

 

Obviously the locals are completely oblivious to it all!

[Sparkles]

4 hours ago, worgeordie said:

"where rains have taken place alongside lower temperatures and dropping levels in waterways. "so it rains and dropping water levels happen, that does not make much sense.

regards worgeordie

Nothing makes sense about Thai weather forecasting or reporting.Last week the north, ie Chiang Mai was supposed to receive a cold front from China ,never happened.

 

It can be raining in CM and you go to www.accuweather and the satellite shows no cloud,amazing rain with no cloud TIT

 

Never known such a mild winter.In the house cant remember even wearing a shirt after 10am.Dreading summer

[dictater]

"As well, Mae Hong Son’s Natural Resources and Environment Office has indicated particulate levels in the air over the province have exceeded standard rates, urging citizens to desist from engaging in outdoor activities and to wear face masks when appropriate. Officials in the province have ordered a stop to the burning of materials throughout March. "

 

Maybe put a check on burning fields, undergrowth and just basic crap that everyone seems to set to smolder. In Kanchanaburi the air pollution from burning has gotten much much worse in recent years, somewhat due to a 'new' method of harvesting sugar cane, somewhat to do with an increased population and some what to do with the amount of (empty) resorts that have gone up in the last few years; clear cutting what remains of the buri that gave the place its name.  

 

But burning is easy and those masks are trendy so it's all good. Just don't go outside, don't exercise, don't enjoy nature until it's clear cut and concreted over. 

[dinsdale]

Pattaya Sat. Don't know but flooding in Pattaya late Feb is pretty unusual.