The water level in the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province surged dramatically to 9.5 meters on Thursday, hovering just three meters shy of the critical threshold after days of relentless rain. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
The Thai Meteorological Department has confirmed that the La Nina climate pattern is now influencing the local weather, bringing a mixture of heavy rainfall and the threat of insufficient water in reservoirs for the upcoming dry season, which spans from November to April. This climatic phenomenon, which began impacting Thailand in July, is projected to persist until early next year. Consequently, the country should brace for increased rainfall and potential tropical storms in August and September.
According to weather forecasters, the cumulative rainfall from May 20 to August 1 was up by an impressive 15% compared to the previous year, resulting in flooding across 37 provinces. Currently, parts of 12 provinces are submerged, with the most affected areas being Chachoengsao, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Kalasin, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani, and Yasothon.
Interestingly, this year’s La Nina is expected to be milder than initially anticipated. Paitoon Kengkarnchang, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), highlighted that air pressure patches and monsoon troughs play a role in mitigating the severity. Nonetheless, despite the forecasted heavy rain from August to October in regions like the Lower North, Central Plains, and the West, concerns remain regarding water supplies for the dry season.
Rainfall patterns have notably bypassed certain critical reservoirs, including Bhumibol and Sirikit dams, leaving their water levels alarmingly low. However, not all is bleak. The Srinakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams have seen significant inflow from recent rains, primarily benefiting from the replenished Mae Klong River’s waters.
Paitoon emphasized that these two dams will play a crucial role in supplying water locally, as well as to the Tha Chin River basin and Bangkok. Proactive measures are also in place; authorities have already discharged water from the Chi and Mun rivers in the Northeast to make room for more anticipated rainfall.
Moving forward, the Office of National Water Resources will be monitoring conditions closely to ensure that all dams maintain sufficient water reserves for the dry months ahead.
In a related incident, water levels in the Mekong River have overflowed, causing significant flooding along Sawan Chai Khong Road in Muang district of Nakhon Phanom province on Thursday. The deluge has inundated fishing shelters and agricultural fields, stretching over a one-kilometer distance with water depths reaching 40-50 centimeters, thus disrupting travel along this route.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has issued a warning for local residents to prepare for continuous heavy rainfall in the northern region and neighboring Laos, urging a vigilant watch on the Mekong River’s water levels to preempt further flooding and ensure safety.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. Why hasn’t the government been more proactive?
It’s not that simple. La Nina is unpredictable, and the government can only do so much.
Exactly, you can’t control the weather. We need better disaster preparedness.
Better preparedness is key. Draining some dams in advance could have mitigated this!
Totally agree! More funding should go into building flood defenses before it’s too late.
The article mentioned that the Srinakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams are managing well. So it’s not all bad news.
But what about the smaller, critical reservoirs? We need a balanced approach.
Yes, focus should be more on equal distribution of resources.
True. The government should monitor and adjust plans dynamically.
I’m more worried about agriculture being hit hard. How will farmers cope with both floods and dry spells?
Diversification and more resilient crops can help.
Plus, government subsidies and better irrigation systems!
Let’s hope the forecasts are accurate and this La Nina is indeed milder.
Should we really be relying on hope though? Science should lead policies!
Exactly, proactive water management and strong policies are crucial.
While science leads, hope isn’t a terrible fallback.
Does anyone know if pets are affected by these weather changes? My cats have been restless.
Pets can be sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, yes.
It’s such a complex issue! Water management is a real challenge.
True, especially with climate change making weather patterns more erratic.
This is just the start. Climate change is going to make these events more frequent and severe.
There are too many factors at play. It’s not just climate change, but also land use and urban development.
Long-term policies should focus on sustainability to prevent such situations in the future.
What about the poor people living near the river? How can we help them?
Donations, volunteer rescue missions, and raising awareness can make a difference.
This isn’t just a local problem. We need international cooperation to tackle climate challenges.
Absolutely! Climate change doesn’t respect borders. Collective action is essential.
This whole situation is frustrating. I just hope lessons are learned for the future.
Optimistic actions now can prevent disasters later. We need to push our governments to act.