A storm alert has been issued for the weekend and Monday with rain expected to lower temperatures in the country, which is experiencing unusually hot weather despite it being the rainy season.
The Meteorological Department on Friday warned of storms in the northern, central, eastern, northeastern and southern regions until Monday, including Greater Bangkok, with rough seas in the Andaman Sea in Ranong, Phangnga and Phuket.
Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ranong and Phangnga were singled out by the weather agency as the provinces to be lashed by heavy rain during the three-day alert. Other provinces bracing for downpours on Sunday and Monday included Chanthaburi and Trat, it added.
Department Director-General Sugunyanee Yavinchan said on Thursday the storms would ease hot conditions in the country that saw the mercury soar over the past few days, although the country officially entered the rainy season on May 15.
The weather forecast chief admitted temperatures in the early period of the wet season were slightly above the average this year because accumulated heat during the summer on the sea surface partially weakened the effect of the southeasterly wind, which normally brings rain to the country.
“Hot conditions this month are still different from those in April because of more moisture from the sea is in the air,” Ms Sugunyanee said.
Highest temperatures in the country on Thursday were in Chai Badan district in Lop Buri province. The mercury in the district peaked at 39.2°C. Other places where the mercury was over 38°C were Kosum Phisai in Maha Sarakham and Aranyaprathet district in Sa Kaeo.
