Rainy season set to be wetter this year

Summer storms have already drenched the country several times this year, and Bangkok is threatened by flooding as usual.
Summer storms have already drenched the country several times this year, and Bangkok is threatened by flooding as usual.

Thailand could see 10% more rainfall than usual during this year's rainy season with Andaman coastal provinces and eastern areas being warned of particularly heavy downpours, says the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).

TMD director-general Wanchai Sakudomchai said Thailand officially enters the rainy season this week due to the influence of southwesterly winds. The country will likely see above-average rainfall overall this year and he warned people across the country to expect torrential rain this month and in September and October. However, the rain will be lighter or conditions may even be relatively dry from June to August, said Mr Wanchai.

This rainy season, heavy downpours could hit the Andaman coastal provinces, such as Ranong, Phangnga and Krabi, as well as the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat. Currently, a westerly wind from Myanmar has hit the North and upper Northeast. That would bring high rainfall to both regions between August and September, Mr. Wanchai indicated. A southeasterly wind has brought humidity from the Gulf of Thailand to the Northeast, East, Central Plains and South, with thundershowers and isolated heavy rain expected across those areas.

Some provinces have already experienced summer storms this month. Storms were also seen in the capital over the weekend as heavy rainfall drenched some parts of the city.

Deputy Bangkok governor Chakkaphan Phiewngam surveyed Srinakarin Road Sunday, between Bang Na-Trat Road and Khlong Kled in Bang Na, as part of efforts to solve the route's chronic flooding. The road is liable to floods even after moderate rainfall. Drainage workers and the Bang Na district office were dredging the area and installing more pumping machines.

Meanwhile, farmers in several northeastern provinces have started ploughing their rice fields in preparation for the coming harvest.

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Vocabulary

  • chronic (adj): (of a disease, pain or problem) serious and lasting for a long time - เป็นประจำ
  • conditions: the weather at a particular time - สภาพอากาศ
  • drainage: the process of taking away of water or other liquids from an area - การระบายน้ำ
  • dredge: to remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, canal, lake, etc. using a sucking or other device - ขุดลอก
  • drench: to make completely wet - ทำให้เปียกโชก
  • humidity: the amount of water that is present in the air - ความชุ่มชื้น
  • isolated: set apart from; disconnected from - แยกออกมา ตั้งอยู่เดี่ยวๆ
  • liable: likely to be affected by something -
  • moderate: neither very great nor very small in strength, size, amount or degree - ระดับปานกลาง
  • survey: to make an examination of something to find out about its condition - สำรวจ
  • torrential: (of rain or moving water) extremely heavy - ซึ่งไหลเชี่ยว
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