Thailand wakes up today to a cooler air and the rattle of distant thunder — scattered thundershowers are expected across several regions as meteorological forces shuffle cards across the map. A low‑pressure cell is parked over the lower Andaman Sea, while a moderate northeast monsoon continues to buffet the upper Gulf, upper South and upper Andaman Sea. The upshot: wet skies for the South, stronger winds and frequently choppy seas along coastal areas.
Sea state and wind watch
Mariners and beachgoers should take note. In the lower Gulf waves could climb to around 2 metres and become higher in a storm, while the upper Gulf is likely to see 1–2 metre seas. Northeasterly winds will be dominant around the southern coasts and may reach 35 km/h in places — strong enough to toss umbrellas and small boats about. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is asking everyone near the shorelines to exercise caution and keep an eye on local advisories.
What’s moving where
Up north, an easterly wind is the main character, but a westerly trough sneaking in from Myanmar is predicted to pass over the upper North and upper Laos, bringing isolated showers to hill towns and border districts. By the 14th, a high‑pressure system sliding down from China is expected to move over the Northeast and the South China Sea, expanding to cover most Thai regions — all except the deep South, which will continue to see monsoon and low‑pressure influences.
The TMD’s message is straightforward: with changeable weather comes health and safety concerns. Upper Thailand residents are urged to look after their health — dress in layers for cool mornings and be careful of sudden downpours — and farmers are advised to take precautions to protect crops from wind and rain damage.
Regional snapshot (6:00am today — 6:00am tomorrow)
Northern Thailand
Expect cool mornings with scattered rain and thundershowers, especially across Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Phitsanulok.
- Minimum: 17–21°C
- Maximum: 25–31°C
- Mountain tops: 7–15°C (cold to very cold)
- Winds: Northeasterly, 10–15 km/h
Northeastern Thailand
Cool mornings continue with isolated thundershowers expected in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nong Bua Lam Phu and Udon Thani. Temperatures may fall 1–3°C after rain, and strong winds could be noticeable.
- Minimum: 17–22°C
- Maximum: 27–34°C
- Mountain tops: 12–18°C
- Winds: Northeasterly, 10–30 km/h
Central Thailand
Cool mornings with isolated rain in provinces such as Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri and Kanchanaburi.
- Minimum: 19–22°C
- Maximum: 27–32°C
- Winds: Easterly, 10–20 km/h
Eastern Thailand
Cool mornings with the chance of isolated light rain. Offshore, waves about a metre are expected, increasing to 1–2 metres farther out.
- Minimum: 22–24°C
- Maximum: 31–33°C
- Winds: Easterly, 15–35 km/h
- Wave height: About 1 metre (1–2 metres offshore)
Southern Thailand — East Coast
Scattered thundershowers, especially from Chumphon down through Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.
- Minimum: 19–24°C
- Maximum: 30–33°C
- Winds & waves: From Chumphon northward northeasterlies 15–35 km/h, 1–2 metres (above 2 metres in thundershowers). From Surat Thani southward northeasterlies 20–35 km/h, about 2 metres (above 2 metres in thundershowers).
Southern Thailand — West Coast
Scattered thundershowers mainly in Ranong, Phang Nga, Trang and Satun. Seas will be about 1 metre nearshore, rising offshore and spiking above 2 metres in storms.
- Minimum: 21–24°C
- Maximum: 30–32°C
- Winds: Northeasterly, 15–30 km/h
- Wave height: About 1 metre (above 1 metre offshore; above 2 metres in thundershowers)
Bangkok and vicinity
Cool morning with isolated light rain possible.
- Minimum: 21–23°C
- Maximum: 30–33°C
- Winds: Easterly, 10–20 km/h
Practical tips — staying safe and dry
- Keep an umbrella or rain jacket handy; sudden thundershowers can surprise even the sunniest commuters.
- Coastal residents and boat operators should secure loose items and monitor wave updates — seas may become hazardous during storms.
- Farmers: consider temporary coverings for vulnerable crops and check greenhouses for loose panels before high winds arrive.
- Elderly people and those sensitive to cold should dress in layers for cool mornings, especially in the North where mountain tops will be very cold.
- Drive carefully on wet roads — reduced visibility and slippery surfaces increase accident risk.
For the clearest picture follow local TMD updates and heed any regional advisories. The weather may be changeable, but a little preparation goes a long way toward keeping mornings fresh and safe — and your plans pleasantly soggy, in the best possible way.
Regional weather infographic by the Thai Meteorological Department (translated to English)
This weather alert feels over the top again. TMD always screams about waves and then everything is fine by noon.
Easy for you to say when you don’t own a boat or live by the coast. A 2 metre wave can ruin lives and gear.
Fair point, Lily. I should’ve said some warnings are useful, but headlines scare tourists unnecessarily.
As a meteorologist I can assure you the TMD uses satellite and buoy data; those 2‑m forecasts come from measured fetch and wind speeds. It’s not fearmongering, it’s risk management.
Risk management is great, but have you seen how many fishermen ignore advisories because they need to feed a family? Warnings don’t buy nets.
As a tour operator, this unpredictable weather is killing bookings. People cancel because they fear a storm, not because it’s actually dangerous.
Maybe tourists should learn to be flexible. You can’t expect perfect weather during monsoon transitions.
Farmers here lost a section of seedlings last month from wind. These warnings help us plan coverings and harvest earlier.
I respect that, Somsak. My gripe is with blanket cancellations and refund-happy platforms that don’t weigh a local advisory.
The deep South being excluded from the high‑pressure cover worries me. That area will get hammered by monsoon moisture.
Exactly, Kritt. Naval crews should be on alert; the sea state could go from calm to hazardous fast.
From a climatology view, these interactions between north‑east monsoon and low‑pressure cells are becoming more frequent in transitional seasons due to changing SST patterns.
Professor, could you explain how SST changes push these patterns? That sounds important for long term planning.
My elderly mother felt cold this morning in Chiang Mai and she has arthritis flare up. These advisories should emphasize health impacts for seniors more.
Farmers: secure plastic covers and sandbags now. Wind is the real thief, not just rain.
I’ve lost greenhouse panels to 35 km/h gusts before. Those simple checks save money later.
Agree. Small towns need community plans for storm prep, not just social media panic posts.
Also, local advisories should be in tourist spots in English and Chinese too. Clear instructions reduce cancellations.
Call me pedantic but ‘2 metres’ without context is ambiguous. Are we talking significant wave height, predicted maximum, or potential storm spikes?
Most bulletins mean average wave height, but TMD often adds notes about higher waves during storms. People reading summaries miss that nuance.
Exactly. Precision matters for mariners deciding whether to sail.
Kids still had school today even though thunder rolled past our district. Should they have been sent home?
Depends on lightning risk and infrastructure. If classrooms are safe, staying often makes more sense than disrupting families.
My kids were soaked on the walk home and came down with colds. Simple: delay dismissal when heavy rain hits.
Boaters ignoring advisories irritate me. You see people taking small kayaks into 2‑m seas like it’s a puddle.
Not everyone can afford big boats or training. Instead of shaming, offer affordable safety courses and gear grants.
Climate change aside, citizen forecasts on social media spread dangerous misinformation fast. Someone posted ‘no rain today’ and it cost a vendor thousands.
People will believe anything with a convincing caption. Official channels need to fight back with clear, shareable updates.
Also, community radio worked well in 2006 storms. Tech isn’t always the best fix in rural zones.
Good point about radio. Old tech plus modern apps could be a hybrid solution.
Those mountain top temps at 7–15°C are no joke. Hikers should pack for near‑freezing conditions at night.
I almost hypothermia’d once because I treated ‘cool morning’ as ‘tshirt weather.’ Learned my lesson the hard way.
Government aid for storm-damaged farms is slow and bureaucratic. Warnings are fine but support must follow when damage occurs.
Why is Bangkok still getting ‘cool mornings’ and 33°C afternoons? Urban heat island is insane, the city needs more trees and planning.
Bah, weather has always changed. People are more dramatic now because phones make everything viral.
Some of that is perception, OldSam, but long-term trends show real shifts in precipitation patterns. Viral posts aside, the data are changing.
I can’t believe people risk small boats for a day of fishing. Economic desperation pushes them to gamble with safety.
This is the crux. Warnings need to be coupled with livelihood support so people aren’t forced into dangerous choices.
Do we have any clear guidance on when coastal activities should be halted? A simple color code would help tourists and locals.
TMD uses advisory levels but public-facing communication could adopt a clearer color system. Good suggestion for them to consider.
Color codes helped my town once. They worked because local leaders explained them on community loudspeakers.
Wave spikes in thundershowers are the real sneaky danger. You can see calm then suddenly massive chop.
Been in those spikes. They flip small boats in seconds, and there’s no time to radio for help.
I think headlines should focus more on prep tips than dramatic numbers. People respond better to ‘do this’ than ‘expect that.’
Agreed. Actionable advice like securing roofs or moving livestock is way more useful than raw stats for most residents.
Thanks, Charlie. Local media could adopt a ‘what to do’ sidebar in every bulletin.
For transparency, TMD should publish the models behind each forecast. Let people see the uncertainty range and sources.
Publishing model ensembles is academically sound but may confuse the public without proper explanation. Education is needed alongside open data.
Fair — pair the data release with simple guides and a FAQ, then.
My science teacher explained monsoons and low pressure today. It’s wild how wind direction changes the weather so much.
Great to hear students are learning this. Early education in meteorology builds community resilience long term.
Coastal resorts should offer refunds only if official red flags are raised, not on every cloudy morning. That would cut abuse.
That policy would protect businesses, but platforms must be flexible to customer safety concerns too. It’s a balance.
I respect the warnings but sometimes the sea is our ATM. What alternatives do we have when catch prices are low?
Microgrants and temporary job programs during hazardous forecasts can reduce risky trips and help sustain households.
If NGOs can actually fund that without months of paperwork, we’d sign up tomorrow.
My neighbor keeps saying ‘it never rains on my beach business’ until a storm washes away tables. People learn the hard way.
Insurance for small vendors is rare and expensive here. Maybe cooperatives could buy group coverage cheaper.
Are there any recommended shelters on the east coast for sudden storms? The bulletin gave no specifics.
Local municipality maps show shelters but they should update them seasonally. I’ll push to publish an online map this week.
Appreciate that. A map would calm a lot of anxious locals.
I love the rain but hate the traffic chaos. One storm and the whole city gridlocks for hours.
Better drainage and staggered work hours could reduce that. It’s a civic design issue, not just weather.
Those mountain top temps need hyped warnings for trekkers. A thin jacket can save a life above 2000m.
Agreed. I now pack a warm layer always after a close call last year.