The high pressure system over China is forecast to expand and cover upper Thailand tomorrow, Kamol Phromsaka Na Sakolnakorn, director of the Southern-east Coast Meteorological Centre, said yesterday.
The system will strengthen the monsoon trough that prevails over the South and the Gulf of Thailand, until Sunday, reports the Bangkok Post.
During this period, eight provinces in the region are expected to experience heavy rain - Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
Residents are warned to prepare for possible flash floods, forest runoff and landslides in risk areas. Winds in the Gulf of Thailand will intensify, with waves up to two-metres high.
“People should closely follow the updates from the Meteorological Centre,” Mr Kamol said.
Winter coming
Meanwhile, officials have confirmed that winter will officially start in Thailand tomorrow with the coldest period from mid-December to early February.
This was announced yesterday by Suchada Thaensap, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
She said the official beginning of winter was tomorrow. Temperatures would then continuously drop and rainfall would noticeably decline in the upper regions of Thailand, and the country would be blanketed by northeasterly or easterly winds.
“However, this does not mean that cold weather will start simultaneously in all regions in the country,” Ms Suchada said.
According to Ms Suchada low temperatures in Thailand this winter will average 21-22°C, similar to last winter.
Mountaintop temperatures may drop to 7-8°C and there could be frosts some mornings in the northern and upper northeastern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Loei, Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon.
The lowest temperatures in Greater Bangkok were forecast at 18-20°C.
Sugunyanee Yavinchan, director-general of the Meteorological Department, said during the initial period of winter the weather could fluctuate. It could rain in parts of the Northeast, the Central Plain, the East and Greater Bangkok.