“If you are heading offshore during this period, heed the advice of your tour operator and boat captain who have the best forecast information available.”
Many parts of the country are in for some very wet weather this weekend, according to the latest forecast from the Thai Meteorological Department. Then again, their predictions of storms and high winds for parts of the south yesterday and today didn’t come to fruition. So…
The TMD predicts “isolated heavy to very heavy rains have been forecast from today through to Monday for the northern, central, eastern, and southern parts of the country”.
The wet weather is the result of tropical cyclone Mocha, which is currently moving north over the Bay of Bengal at around 10 kilometres an hour and with sustained winds of around 105 kilometres an hour. The cyclone is forecast to make landfall over Myanmar on Sunday or Monday.
The TMD has said that several parts of the country may be affected by flash flooding and overflows. Conditions in the Andaman Sea are also predicted to be rough, with the TMD issuing a warning for “all ships to proceed with caution and for small boats in the upper Andaman to remain ashore until Monday”.
Between Saturday and Monday, waves of between 2 and 3 metres in height are forecast for the upper Andaman Sea, and over 3 metres off-shore, due to strong southwesterly winds.
The Phuket-GO.com forecast model predicts fine weather in Phuket throughout the weekend with winds only reaching “moderate” strength, up to 18 kph on Sunday.
If you are heading offshore during this period, heed the advice of your tour operator and boat captain who have the best forecast information available.
Meanwhile, in related news, the TMD dismissed social media rumours this week that two cyclones will hit Thailand on Sunday, May 14, when the general election takes place. Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn says no such storms are forecast for the kingdom.
Chaiwut also points out that while tropical cyclone Mocha won’t make landfall in Thailand, its influence will be felt in the form of heavy rain in the North between Thursday and Sunday, and in strong southwesterly winds in the South, which will bring heavy rain to around 60% of the country.
SOURCE: TMD
