The authorities have issued a fresh warning for more wet weather from Tuesday to Thursday in areas of the upper North reeling from the floods in the past few weeks.
Heavy rain and gusty winds are forecast in parts of the North, the Central Plains, the East and Bangkok and its surrounding provinces during the period as a result of the high-pressure trough, according to the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) secretary-general, Surasee Kittimonthon.
Also, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said that on Monday, residents recovering from devastating floods over the past few weeks should brace for a possible repeat of downpours. The warning was issued to residents of the upper northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao and Nan, as well as lower northern provinces Phetchabun and Sukhothai.
Somkwan Tanjan, director of the TMD's forecast division, said the heavy rains are predicted to hit the provinces in the next two days before tapering off on Friday.
The new wave of water is having a knock-on effect on low-lying provinces downstream, such as Ang Thong and Ayutthaya. Particularly vulnerable are Bang Ban and Sena districts of Ayutthaya, which are experiencing floods caused by the Chao Phraya barrage dam in Chai Nat, which is speeding up water discharge to make room for more rainfall.
However, the downpours so far are replenishing water stored in major dams in the North. Water in the Bhumibol Dam in Tak has risen to 61% of capacity, and the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit to 91%. "It's looking good," Mr Somkwan said.
The upcoming rains will continue to push the levels up further.
In flood-battered Chiang Mai, the highest water level measured in the Ping River, which runs close to the downtown area, stabilised at 3.45 metres but was still regarded as critical on Monday. Vast areas in the city centre and many suburbs are struggling to pump out six days of floodwater, which is now becoming stagnant and putrid.