SAMUI, Thailand – Boat operators have announced a temporary suspension of ferry services between Surat Thani–Koh Tao and Koh Tao–Surat Thani from 19–21 November, due to strong winds and high waves brought on by severe weather in the Gulf of Thailand.
On Tuesday (19 Nov), the Ko Samui Radio Broadcasting Station (PRD) published notices from multiple ferry and speedboat companies confirming the halt, citing unsafe sea conditions that pose risks to passenger safety.
Routes suspended:
Surat Thani → Koh Tao on 19 November
Koh Tao → Surat Thani on 20 November
Several operators — including Lotus Ferry, Lomprayah, and various express boat services — have also cancelled or adjusted individual sailings as weather conditions continue to deteriorate.
Operators apologised for the inconvenience and urged passengers to check updated schedules directly with each company before travelling, as sailings may continue to change depending on sea conditions. Services will resume once weather permits.
Meanwhile, the popular Thai weather page “T’lomfah Akat” issued an alarming warning of a potential “1,000-year flood event” across the lower and central east-coast provinces of Southern Thailand, from Chumphon to Narathiwat.
According to the forecast, accumulated rainfall could exceed 1,000 millimetres over the next ten days, with 3–5 days of continuous, heavy, day-and-night rainfall expected from 20–24 November, and again from 30 Nov–2 Dec.
The page attributes the extreme conditions to a powerful northeast monsoon, a monsoon trough over the lower South, and a strong low-pressure system moving across the Gulf of Thailand — potentially intensifying into a tropical depression during the second wave.
