THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Rainy season arrives as the |transition from summer begins

Rainy season arrives as the |transition from summer begins

THE WET SEASON appears to have begun, with downpours drenching many parts of the country and Bangkok yesterday.

The arrival of the rainy season is good news, given many provinces have struggled with water shortages and hot weather for several months. 
In Bangkok, rainfall in Klong Toei district alone reached 14.5 millimetres. Elsewhere in Bang Na, Prawet, Ratchathewi, Dusit, Phaya Thai, Din Daeng, Huai Khwang, Bang Kapi, Wang Thonglang, Lat Phrao, and Khan Na Yao districts, rainfall ranged from small to moderate. 
The capital’s water-drainage capacity is 60 millimetres of rainfall per hour. 
Meteorological Department director general Wanchai Sakudomchai said yesterday the wet season would last from the third week of May till mid-October. 
“We are in a transitional period from summer to the rainy one,” said Wattana Kanbua, senior meteorologist and senior director of the Marine Meteorological Centre. “That’s why we have had rain.” 
In Tak province, cloudbursts lasted for about two hours, causing flooding as well as a landslide. The landslide hit a stretch of road where construction was going on, causing rock used at the site to be spread around – which flattened the tyres of many cars. 
In Lampang province, locals said their electricity went down on Sunday night due to tumultuous weather. 
More than 130 houses were damaged by strong wind and hail. Several trees were also toppled. 
 
Stay away from billboards
The weather bureau warned people to stay away from big trees, billboards and insecure structures up till Tuesday during rainstorms and strong winds. 
And while the wet season has started, many parts of Thailand still face water shortage. 
In the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Maharaj Hospital had to close down its hemodialysis centre because of its lack of water. The hospital also postponed some patients’ operations. 
And in Phichit, drought is so serious that the Yom River remains parched. 
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