Central, southern regions brace for heavy rain, flash foods

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BANGKOK, Nov 8 — The Meteorological Department of Thailand has warned the country’s central and southern regions to brace for heavy rain and possible flash flooding from an active low pressure weather system.

The weather agency said in its latest statement that the low pressure cell covers the upper Gulf of Thailand and the upper South so that heavy rain is likely in the lower central and southern regions, particularly in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces.

Strong winds and 2-3 metre waves are expected in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

The department has warned residents to be aware of severe weather. The active low pressure areas will move to the upper Andaman Sea on Saturday.

Raywat Kruadaeng, chief of Prachuap Khiri Khan weather office, said his office is closely coordinating with the provincial disaster response agency to monitor the weather situation.

He said that the expected heavy rain could cause forest runoff and flash flooding.

In Narathiwat, the provincial governor Nattapong Sirichana has ordered the agencies concerned to monitor the weather round the clock and be prepared to alert residents of the severe weather.

Meanwhile, the department said typhoon “Haiyan”, moving across the Philippines, is forecast to move near the coast of Central Vietnam on Sunday and Monday.

It will then weaken rapidly due to the impact of the cool and dry air mass from China to bring rainfall over the eastern part of Thailand’s Northeast.