Bebinca downgraded but heavy rains persist

Bebinca downgraded but heavy rains persist

A road is flooded in Chiang Rai where heavy rain has affected several districts on Saturday. (Photo by Chinpat Chaimon)
A road is flooded in Chiang Rai where heavy rain has affected several districts on Saturday. (Photo by Chinpat Chaimon)

The Meteorological Department has warned residents of 18 provinces in the North, Northeast, East and South to brace for heavy rain and isolated heavy downpours through Sunday even though tropical storm Bebinca has weakened.

Bebinca was downgraded to a low-pressure cell as it moved across the upper North of Thailand at 7am Saturday and later moved into Myanmar, the department said. 

It is forecasting abundant rain with isolated torrential downpours likely in parts of the North, Central, East and South. Flash floods and river overflows are possible in at-risk areas. Eighteen provinces will be affected on Saturday, and alerts will apply in 12 provinces on Sunday.

The impact of the storms has already been severe in Nan, where the Nan River and its tributaries have burst their banks, flooding more than 1,000 households in seven districts of the northern provinces. 

Provinces expected to be affected on Saturday include eight in the North (Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Tak); two in the Central Plains (Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi); two in the East (Chanthaburi and Trat); and six in the South (Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Phangnga and Phuket).

On Sunday, forecasters expect heavy rain in four provinces in the North (Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai and Tak); two in the East (Chanthaburi and Trat); and six in the South (Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi).

The strong southwest monsoon still prevails over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Strong waves of 2-4 metres are expected in the Andaman, rising above 4 metres in areas hit by thundershowers, and 2-3 metres high in the Gulf, said the weather office.

All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats keep ashore until Monday, it said. Residents along the coast were told to beware of the risk of an inshore storm surge.

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