Dams can cope with weekend storms: authorities 

The National Water Resources Office and Royal Irrigation Department (RID) on Friday confirmed that the authorities and the irrigation system were ready to receive large amounts of precipitation during the extraordinary wet period, which is affecting almost every part of the country.
National Water Resources secretary-general Samroeng Sangphuwong revealed that many dams, especially in the north and northeast, had been drained of large quantities of water to make space for what was to come.
Samroeng said because of recent relatively dry days the operation to empty the major dams was smooth.
Nevertheless, he said six large dams were still causing concern as they were above 80-per-cent capacity.
The dams were the Nam Un in Sakon Nakhon (106 per cent), Kaeng Krachan in Phetchaburi (105 per cent), Vajiralongkorn in Kanchanaburi (95 per cent), Srinagarind in Kanchanaburi (91 per cent), Naruebodind Drachinta in Prachinburi (88 per cent), Khun Dan Prakan Chon in Nakhon Nayok (87 per cent) and Ratchaprapa in Surat Thani (85 per cent).
Samroeng said, apart from the Vajiralongkorn and Srinagarind dams in Mae Klong river basin, the discharge rate was higher than the inflow.
RID director-general Thongplew Kongchan said the Chao Phraya and Phetchaburi basins were now under control, as the flow in both rivers had slightly decreased during the week.
The Meteorological Department has issued a weather warning on Friday alerting 46 provinces across the country to the danger of flash floods and landslides.
It said a moderate high-pressure area from China was moving south toward northern Laos and Vietnam, pushing the monsoon across Thailand.
Southern provinces were expected to be hit by storms until Saturday.

As of the latest water situation update on Saturday, there were heavy rain throughout the North and Northern Region, as the precipitation level within 24 hours at Chiang Rai in the North and Ubon Ratchathani in the North East reached 67 millimeters and 47 millimeters respectively.