TMD forecast does not support reports of catastrophic flooding
Heavy to very heavy rain is forecast in parts of Thailand from Wednesday (September 23, 2026) to Sunday (September 27, 2026), with flash floods and localised flooding possible.
- The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has refuted social media reports that predict "catastrophic flooding," stating their official forecast does not support such claims.
- While denying a catastrophe, the TMD does forecast heavy to very heavy rain in many parts of Thailand from September 23 to 27 due to an active low-pressure cell and monsoon activity.
- The actual risks identified by the TMD are flash floods, forest run-off, and localized flooding in at-risk areas, rather than continuous, widespread disaster.
- Officials have urged the public to follow official announcements from the TMD and to avoid panicking over unverified information from social media.
Nattawut Dandee, deputy director-general for technical services at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), spoke to the media at the Weather Forecast Operations Centre on the 11th floor of the department’s 50 Years of Meteorology Building at 3pm on Tuesday (September 22, 2026).
He addressed information circulated on social media about “catastrophic flooding in the next 120 hours”, which had drawn public attention and concern, and explained the TMD forecast for heavy to very heavy rain from September 23 to 27.
Nattawut said Thailand was likely to experience heavy rain in many areas and very heavy rain in some places during the period because of an active low-pressure cell, a monsoon trough and a strengthening southwest monsoon.
However, information suggesting that “catastrophic flooding” would occur or that heavy rain would continue throughout the day and night did not match TMD forecasts.
He said the conditions requiring close monitoring were heavy rain and accumulated rainfall, which could cause flash floods, run-off from forests and localised flooding in at-risk areas.
Heavy to very heavy rain will require continued monitoring from September 23 to 27 in the North, lower Northeast, East and Central regions, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces, as well as other areas along the monsoon trough.
Winds and waves over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are also expected to strengthen.
People were urged to closely follow announcements and information from TMD and not to panic over information shared on social media without first checking the source.
