Thailand is being warned to brace for a wet and rowdy 24 hours as the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) paints a soggy picture across much of the kingdom. Heavy rain is forecast for 51 provinces — including Bangkok and the metropolitan area — and officials urge everyone to stay alert for flash floods and overflowing waterways as rainfall accumulates.
Quick snapshot: what’s coming
- Heavy rain in 51 provinces across northern, northeastern, central, eastern, and parts of the southern coasts.
- Thunderstorms expected to cover large swathes of regions (60–70% in several areas).
- Sea conditions rough in many coastal zones — small craft advisories likely.
- Potential hazards: flash floods, fast-rising rivers, lightning, poor visibility on roads.
Regional breakdown (what you need to know)
Northern Thailand
Expect scattered thunderstorms across roughly 60% of the north, with pockets of heavy rain in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Phichit, and Phetchabun. Temperatures will sit between a cool 23–24°C at night and a balmy 30–34°C by day. Mountain roads may get slippery fast — be careful if you’re heading out to popular hill-station spots.
Northeastern region (Isaan)
Thunderstorms are likely in about 70% of the northeast, with heavy downpours expected in Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani. Temperatures will range from 22–24°C to 31–34°C. Flood-prone districts should prepare for rapid water rises after intense rain bursts.
Central Thailand
About 70% of the central region will see thunderstorms, with heavier rain predicted in Nakhon Sawan, Lopburi, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchaburi. Temperatures are forecast between 23–24°C (low) and 34–36°C (high). Low-lying areas along rivers and canals should be on alert for overflow.
Eastern Thailand
Thunderstorms are expected over 70% of the east, with very heavy rain in Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Daytime highs will be 31–35°C, evenings 24–25°C. Offshore, sea waves are predicted around 2 metres and will be higher where thunderstorms occur — beachgoers and boaters be warned.
Southern region — eastern coast
The eastern coast of the south faces thunderstorms across roughly 40% of the area, especially Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Nighttime lows will be 23–25°C, daytime highs 33–35°C. Expect sea swells of 1–2 metres, rising toward 2 metres offshore and higher where storms brew.
Southern region — western coast
Thunderstorms could lash up to 70% of the western coast, with very heavy rain most likely in Ranong, Phang Nga, and Phuket. Temperatures will hover between 24–26°C (low) and 30–35°C (high). Sea conditions worsennorth of Phuket, where waves are forecast at 2–3 metres and could top 3 metres in storms; south of Krabi waves will be about 2 metres, but will grow in height during thunder squalls.
Bangkok and the metropolitan area
Bangkok can expect thunderstorms across roughly 70% of the area, with pockets of heavy rain. Temperatures will range from about 25–26°C at night to 34–36°C in the afternoon. Urban flooding is always a risk in the capital when heavy rain arrives — keep umbrellas handy and avoid flooded streets.
Practical tips — stay safe, dry, and informed
- Monitor the TMD and local authority updates regularly — conditions can change quickly.
- Avoid driving through water-covered roads; just a few centimeters of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
- If you live near rivers or low-lying areas, prepare to move to higher ground and secure important documents.
- Boaters and fishermen: heed advisories — small craft should stay ashore when waves approach 2 metres or more.
- Have an emergency kit ready (torch, batteries, water, basic medicines) and keep mobile phones charged.
In short: the skies are primed to pour. Whether you’re navigating Bangkok’s drizzle or riding out a storm on the Andaman coast, take the warnings seriously — check TMD updates and local news (KhaoSod has the bulletin), and plan your travel and outdoor activities accordingly. Stay safe and keep an eye on those clouds.
This looks serious — 51 provinces is almost the whole country, and Bangkok is on the list. People need to stop treating heavy rain like a mild inconvenience and start preparing for real flooding. If you live near canals or rivers, move important stuff to higher ground now.
Everyone says ‘prepare’ but who will pay for sandbags and time off work? The city should do more than tweet warnings.
True — personal prep only goes so far, and municipal response matters. We need organized community shelters and clearer evacuation routes, not just generic alerts.
My street floods every rainy season and the drainage trucks only come after waist-deep water appears. Warnings are helpful but action is what saves lives.
Farmers here already lose crops with one bad storm; 2 meters of waves will wreck coastal nets and pens. Where’s the compensation plan?
The TMD bulletins are scientifically sound, but the messaging must include probabilistic risk to help prioritize resources. A 70% chance of thunderstorms is not a signal to panic, but it is a signal to elevate risk management.
As someone in Isaan, this raises my anxiety — 70% thunderstorms sound awful for harvest season. Is there a government helpline we can call for local flood updates? Schools should consider flexible schedules.
They already closed a few schools last year, but parents lost work. The government needs a better support plan for affected families, not just advice to ‘move to higher ground.’
Practical tip: keep emergency cash in a waterproof pouch and take photos of documents to the cloud. Simple steps make evacuations less chaotic.
Good point, Joe — I’ll back up documents tonight. Still feels like we’re being asked to do everything ourselves.
Weather patterns are changing and this looks like climate change at work, not just a random downpour. Long-term urban planning must incorporate flood plains and green infrastructure.
That’s true but retrofitting cities is expensive and slow. In the meantime, build temporary measures and focus on rapid response.
Exactly — short-term relief plus a long-term plan. Tax incentives for permeable pavements and tree planting would help.
I’ve been in agriculture 30 years and every flood advisory means potential ruin for small farmers. The TMD warns but who’s checking the irrigation canals and dams?
If dams are released without warning, downstream communities can be blindsided. We need transparent dam management and real-time alerts.
Right — and the authorities should coordinate with local leaders to distribute timely, actionable info, not generic headlines.
A technical note: thunderstorm coverage percentages and wave heights give a useful probabilistic picture but local topography determines flash flood hotspots. Localized sensors and automatic gates can mitigate rapid rises.
Metro Bangkok drains poorly; a 70% thunderstorm chance equals gridlock and flooded BTS entrances in my head. Stay home if you can and avoid driving.
Also, check your building’s generator and water reserves — many condos lose power during intense storms, which hits elderly residents hardest.
I work at a school near the river and we need clear guidance on whether to hold classes tomorrow. Parents want safety but also normalcy for kids.
From a teacher’s view, remote learning is a mixed bag here due to unreliable internet. Better to have contingency in place and communicate decisions early.
Agreed — early communication prevents panic and keeps kids safe. I’ll push for a decision by tonight.
Small craft advisory is not a suggestion; my boat barely handles 2 meters. Communities along the coast should move boats to shelter now.
We advise all small vessels to remain ashore and for fishermen to report missing crew immediately. We’ll patrol high-risk areas but need local cooperation.
Thanks — please prioritize Ranong and Phang Nga. We’ll follow orders but need clear pickup points if evacuation happens.
This is getting political: why did funds for drainage go to beautification projects instead? We need accountability when citizens flood.
I live in a low-lying area on the eastern coast and I’m worried about waves and lightning. Any advice for night-time safety if power goes out?
Keep flashlights, charge power banks, and have a battery radio. Don’t rely on candles — lightning and winds make them risky.
Thanks, I’ll prepare a kit and tell neighbors to form a check-in list for the night.
Immediate policy ask: activate emergency funds and issue paid leave for frontline responders and affected workers, otherwise public compliance with safety orders will be low.
Policy is great but implementation lags. Who signs off on emergency payouts? We need transparency and speed.
Usually the provincial administration can reallocate contingency budgets, but national oversight speeds things up. I’ll push this with local contacts.
My teacher told us to stay away from flooded streets. Is rain supposed to be this scary? I like puddles but also don’t want to get stuck.
It’s okay to be curious but stay safe — explain to your parents you learned about flash flood risks and keep indoors during heavy rain.
I will tell them. Maybe the school can do a lesson on emergency kits so everyone knows what to do.