Heavy rain alert as tropical storm Wipha approaches Thailand
The Thai Meteorological Department's (TMD) 24-hour war room was launched to keep track of the storm, which on Monday was centred over the Gulf of Tonkin with wind speeds reduced from 116 km/h to 83 km/h. Widespread downpours are nonetheless expected.
TMD director-general Sukanyanee Yawincharn stated that Wipha was moving west-southwest at 20 km/h and was expected to make landfall in northern Vietnam yesterday before further weakening.
Despite not making direct landfall in Thailand, Wipha is intensifying the southwest monsoon, leading to forecasts of heavy to very heavy rain across 50 provinces, while in Bangkok, thunderstorms are expected across 60%–80% of the city.
Ms Sukanyanee said that although Wipha will not directly hit Thailand, it is likely to cause flash floods, forest run-off, and rough seas. The TMD will maintain 24-hour surveillance and issue continuous updates.
Seree Supratid, director of the Climate Change and Disaster Center at Rangsit University, posted on Facebook that Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation had convened an emergency meeting, led by director-general Phasakorn Boonyalak, to assess Wipha's potential impacts.
The meeting resolved that the National Disaster Warning Centre would inform 22 high-risk provinces via cell broadcast of the expected landfall today. The storm will likely weaken to a depression before crossing into northern Thailand, especially affecting Nan and Chiang Rai. Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned that flash floods are the main concern, and flood response equipment has been deployed in key areas.
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Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Flooding remains in North
Many areas in the northern provinces of Nan, Phayao and Chiang Rai are still affected by flooding as persistent rain is expected to continue throughout Thursday. The Meteorological Department reported that Wipha weakened from a tropical storm into a depression on Wednesday and is expected to downgrade further as a low-pressure system, moving along the monsoon trough in northern Thailand, upper Laos and Myanmar on Friday and Saturday. In Nan, governor Chainarong Yongwai said this was the most severe flooding in 47 years. All 15 districts in the province were flooded. Rainfall records on Thursday showed districts in the upper part had over 300 millimetres of accumulation, such as Bo Kluea, Tha Wang Pha, Pua and Chiang Klang. The major measuring gauge in Tha Wang Pha recorded water at 14.51 metres, decreasing by five centimetres per hour. Water in Muang district was measured at 9.43m and increasing by 2cm per hour. The internet signal in Muang district was unavailable due to electricity cuts to prevent dangers to the public. Mobile internet vehicles were deployed to assist residents. Helicopters from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation were operating to help affected households. Rain is expected to continue pouring across Nan until Thursday night. Although water levels might decrease, flooding will expand to more areas, Mr Chainarong said. He advised residents in unflooded areas to stay alert. In Chiang Rai, flooding mainly affected Thoeng district, with water levels higher than Wednesday, affecting several premises, according to the provincial public relations office. Several roads were damaged by floods and landslides, with some closed to motorists. In Phayao, eight districts were flooded, affecting over 1,700 households, according to governor Ratthaphon Naradisorn, who was speaking at a war room meeting with the Interior Ministry. The main rivers flowing into the province were the Yom River and Ing River, with persistent rain causing flooding along both rivers for over 50 kilometres. The water situation is expected to stabilise within two to three days, Mr Ratthaphon said. Chiang Kham Hospital was surrounded by about 50cm of floodwater, and patients were evacuated by military vehicles. The Ministry of Public Health reported that five hospitals were affected by flooding. They included Wiang Sa, Chiang Klang and Tha Wang Pha hospitals in Nan; Thoeng in Chiang Rai; and Chiang Kham in Phayao. The government had set up emergency centres in some affected areas, with mental health crisis teams on standby. The weather agency forecasted that 22 provinces across Thailand would experience more heavy rain on Thursday: In the North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak and Kamphaeng Phet
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Transport safety stressed in stormy northern Thailand
Thai transport agencies are taking safety precautions and are ready to offer public assistance for any effects caused by Tropical Storm Wipha in northern Thailand, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Wednesday. The storm has weakened since moving in from Laos but has caused persistent heavy rain and flooding in some provinces in the North, according to the Meteorological Department. The key provinces affected are Nan, Chiang Rai and Phayao. Mr Suriya said the Department of Highways has set up warning and detour signs on affected roads and stationed security staff for 24 hours at points prone to floods and landslides, with machinery on standby for emergencies. The Department of Rural Roads was thoroughly inspecting roads and will alert the public to any damage through updates on its Flood Management System (FMS). The State Railway of Thailand, meanwhile, is cleaning and improving drainage systems. Safety checks on tracks, trains, signals and barriers are under way, along with a review of emergency response plans and temporary shelters for passengers. Chiang Mai Airport since Monday has opened a coordination centre with equipment and staff on hand in domestic passenger hall 1, according to Airports of Thailand. Airport staff are also holding daily situation assessment meetings at 9am. Parking for 250 vehicles is available for affected individuals. Mae Fah Luang Airport in Chiang Rai is also allowing free parking for flood-affected residents until Thursday. Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok remains unaffected, with normal flight operations. Passengers planning flights from Thailand to heavily affected areas, such as Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen, are advised to continuously check their flight status. In case of delays or cancellations, passengers are entitled to full refunds or flight changes, except for compensation due to unforeseeable external events, said the Civil Aviation Authority. Passengers who will be arriving in Thailand can check situation updates via websites of airports where they will be landing. Measures are in place to ensure flight safety and air traffic management, according to Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.
Bangkok Post
3 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Flooding, persistent rain in North
Storm Wipha weakened to a low pressure system as it moved into the North of Thailand, where persistent rain was causing flooding in some provinces on Wednesday. Somkhuan Tonchan, forecasting director at the Meteorological Department, said that storm Wipha had been downgraded to a low pressure system and moved into northern Thailand from Laos at 10am on Wednesday. The depression was bringing heavy rain, initially to Nan province, that would continue into Thursday, moving westwards to Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Tak provinces. Heavy overnight rain in the upper north had caused flooding in Chiang Rai, Nan and Phayao provinces. he said. In Chiang Rai floodwater entered a police station, a school, a court building and a hospital in Thoeng district, Thoeng hospital had evacuated patients with mild symptoms and was admitting only emergency cases on Wednesday. Flooding was also reported in Muang, Phaya Mengrai and Wiang Chiang Rung districts of Chiang Rai. In Nan, waterways overflowed in Bo Kluea, Chiang Klang, Muang and Pua districts. Some local schools were closed. Nan governor Chainarong Wongyai said the rain was persistent but not heavy and the flooding was not powerful, causing only minor difficulties for residents. Nan had recorded 150-200 millimetres of rain, he said. Rainfall should decline on Thursday.
