Severe summer storms batter Thailand as temperatures soar to 43 Celsius

The Thai Meteorological Department has issued an urgent warning for those in northern Thailand to prepare for a wave of severe summer storms lasting through April 20, following a record heatwave in which temperatures peaked at 43°C yesterday.

The volatile weather is the result of a high-pressure system from China spreading over the South China Sea, bringing cooler air to clash with the intense heat currently blanketing Thailand.

Surapong Sarapa, director of the Weather Forecast Division, noted that this extreme temperature, peaking yesterday at 43°C in Lampang, acts as prime fuel, intensifying the storms, which are accompanied by lightning, localised hail and strong winds.

The impacts of the summer storms have already been felt in several regions.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the storms caused a major structural failure at the provincial railway station. A 15-meter-high platform roof, stretching over 70 meters, collapsed while passengers were waiting for trains to Bangkok. No fatalities were reported, though the collapse caused significant panic, forcing Platform 1 to be closed temporarily while officials undertook repairs and cleared debris from the tracks.

Prachin Buri was also hit hard by strong winds that toppled seven high-voltage utility poles along Highway 33, leading to blackouts across several districts.

Residents in the area reported witnessing unusually large hailstones, and preliminary assessments suggest that the total damage to local infrastructure and property is estimated at no less than 10 million baht.

Meanwhile, in Surin, storms originating from the Cambodian border ripped through the Chong Chom border market, destroying numerous stalls and damaging a vast amount of merchandise.

The volatile weather was also felt in Prasat district, where a housewarming celebration was cut short after sudden gusts demolished the stage and sound equipment, while in Nakhon Phanom’s Na Kae district, multiple homes reported significant structural damage due to the intense wind and rain.

Until April 20, nearly 40 provinces should be ready for thunder and hailstorms as the alert status covers a broad geographic area.

This includes northern provinces such as Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit, Tak, and Phitsanulok, as well as northeastern hubs including Loei, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani, and twelve other provinces in the region.

In central and eastern Thailand, residents of Lop Buri, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, and Chon Buri are urged to remain vigilant, while southern provinces including Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun, and the Deep South are also bracing for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

The Thai Meteorological Department predicts that, while rainfall will decrease after April 20, the extreme heat will return immediately.

This heat is expected to set the stage for yet another round of summer storms forecast between April 23 and 24, as a new cold air mass from China is expected to descend upon the region.

Citizens are advised to stay away from large trees, unsecured billboards and fragile structures during the storms.

Farmers should also prepare for the potential of crop damage caused by hail.