Flood warnings for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla

People in the three southern provinces of Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla are being advised to brace for more heavy rain and a possible a new round of flooding from tomorrow until Wednesday, due to a new cold front from China.

According to Chavalit Chantrat, a water expert at Team Group, the serious flooding in Chumphon in the past few days was worse than expected due to very intense cold weather from China pushing humidity and cloud over the South China Sea towards Vietnam, causing the wind to change direction towards Chumphon instead of Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Rain has now eased off in Chumphon, but will increase in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat from tomorrow until Wednesday, followed by Songkhla.

In Hat Yai, he said the water level in U-Tapao Canal is only 4cm below its banks and, with more rain, the canal could overflow.

The water level in the Tapi River in Surat Thani is 43cm below its banks, but people living on both sides of the river are advised to be aware that there is a possibility of overflow.

Water levels in the Sao Thong and Thadee canals in Nakhon Si Thammarat remain high and are expected to increase, with the anticipation of more heavy rain.

In Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, Chavalit said many rivers close to the Pattani River are still engorged and, with the expectation of more rain until Wednesday, flooding may worsen.

Assistant Professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat, of Kasetsart University, said in his Facebook post today, that the “rain bomb” (wet microburst) phenomenon has become more frequent in Thailand as the global climate warms up.

He cited the “rain bombs” in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai, Mae Taeng and Mueang districts of Chiang Mai, Ban Rai in Yala and, recently Chumphon, which resulted in unusually heavy flooding.

Since Chumphon is the gateway to provinces further south, Thon said that the government should pay more attention to planning alternative routes for transportation, in case the main highway becomes impassable again for an extended period due to heavy flooding.

He said it is fortunate that the road was completely closed for only a day on this occasion.

“This is not an event which should cause panic. It will happen again and again and become more frequent as the Earth is warming and there is no way to stop it,” claimed Thon.