Heavy rain and flooding was reported in the Northeast overnight and on Friday morning, with Tropical Storm Noul expected to arrive on Friday evening.
A storm hit Khon Kaen province about 4am on Friday. Some roads in the northeastern provincial capital were flooded during morning rush hours.
Roads were under water in Khon Kaen municipality, and flooding on Ban Kok Road was 30-50 centimetres deep. Few shoppers were at local stores, as commuters and students found travelling difficult.
Heavy rain was reported overnight and continuing in the morning in Buri Ram province.
The Meteorological Department said on Friday morning that Tropical Storm Noul was 170 kilometres east of Danang at 4am, and movng westwards.
It would land in Danang and reach the northeastern Thai province of Mukdahan on Friday evening. The storm would then pass through the North and enter Myanmar on the weekend.
The department warned of heavy rain, flash floods and runoff nationwide. The Northeast woud be hit first and other regions afterwards, Mr Somsak said.
Earlier warnings about the possibility of the storm developing into a typhoon were dismissed.
