Bangkok among 60 provinces on storm alert until Sunday

People living in 60 provinces, including Bangkok, are advised to brace for thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain from today through Sunday, and to avoid taking shelter under large trees, billboards or unstable structures.

Teerapat Kachamat, director-general of the Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said he has instructed department officials to closely monitor the weather and remain on standby to respond to emergency situations.

He attributed the extreme weather fluctuations to a cold air mass from China covering northeastern Thailand and the South China Sea, combined with strengthening easterly winds over southern Thailand and the Gulf, as well as increased humidity being carried in from the Gulf and the South China Sea by southerly and southeasterly winds.

Northern provinces forecast to experience gusty winds and heavy rain today and tomorrow are Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Tak, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phichit, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan and Uthai Thani.

Twenty northeastern provinces and 23 central provinces, including Bangkok, are also expected to be affected.

On Sunday, only 15 northern provinces and five northeastern provinces are expected to remain affected.