People in eight southern provinces are advised to brace for heavy rain and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand from today to Feb 8 as the northeast monsoon hovers over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general Chayapol Thitisak said on Sunday.
Mr Chayapol said the eight provinces are Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Songkhla, Ranong, Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi, citing the Thai Meteorological Department's weather forecast.
He said the department's regional and provincial offices have warned people in the eight provinces to prepare for possible danger from heavy rain. The offices have also prepared evacuations plans in case they are needed.
With waves in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea forecast to reach 2-3 metres, all vessels should proceed with caution while small boats should remain ashore during the period, said Mr Chayapol.
He asked people to keep abreast of the situation by following the latest weather forecasts.
While the southern region is braced for rain, other areas in the country will see plunging temperatures from now until Wednesday.
The Meteorological Department said on Sunday that the mercury will drop by 4-6°C over the next four days, with temperatures between 10-14°C in mountainous areas of the northern and northeastern regions.
The weather will become warmer from Thursday through the weekend, it added.