Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his entourage will fly by helicopter to examine the state of water resources and drainage systems in Pathum Thani and Nakhon Nayok provinces on Wednesday following recent rain.
The prime minister, Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda and Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dapong Ratanasuwan, on Wednesday morning flew from the 2nd Cavalry Division in Bangkok by helicopter to the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Muang district of Nakhon Nayok for a ceremony marking the 128th anniversary of the founding of the institute.
On their return trip, Gen Prayut and his entourage were scheduled to make an aerial inspection of water resources and drainage systems in Nakhon Nayok and Pathum Thani. The two provinces had been severely hit by drought and water shortages but have benefitted from rain over the past week.
The Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that a monsoon trough is currently lying across the upper North, with a low pressure cell over Tonkin Bay and the strong southwest monsoon still prevailing across the Andaman Sea.
Abundant rain is expected for the rest of this week throughout Thailand with isolated heavy rain in the North, Northeast and the south of the West Coast.
People in the following provinces should beware of possible flash floods: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Tak, Phetchabun, Loei, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Ranong, Phangnga and Phuket.
Waves are expected to be 2-3 metres high in the Andaman Sea.
Typhoon Soudelor in the northwest Pacific Ocean is expected to cross the east coast of China during on Aug 7-8. The storm, the most powerful in the region this year, will not have a significant impact on Thailand.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has issued a warning for four eastern and 11 southern provinces to be alert for possible flash floods and mudslides on Aug 5-9. They are Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat in the East and Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Satun, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang in the South.