Thailand Issues Heavy Rain Warning: South and East First From October 18, Bangkok and Central Region to Follow October 21-25
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) issued its Warning No. 1 (260/2026) at 5 a.m. on October 17, forecasting a prolonged spell of rain across much of Thailand from October 18 to 25, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall and risks of flash floods, overflowing waterways and landslides.
In the first phase, from October 18 to 20, the South and the East will see continuous rain with isolated heavy to very heavy downpours. In the second phase, from October 21 to 25, rainfall will increase over the lower Northeast, the Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, the East and the upper South, with isolated heavy to very heavy rain and gusty winds.
At sea, the department said waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand could exceed three metres in thunderstorm areas, and vessels were told to proceed with caution and avoid those areas. On land, the warning highlights flash floods, overflowing waterways and landslides, particularly around foothills, waterways and low-lying areas, and advises monitoring accumulated rainfall.
The TMD linked the first phase to a monsoon trough lying across the lower South and the southwest monsoon over the lower Andaman Sea. The trough is then expected to shift towards the upper South, the upper Gulf and the East, while a high-pressure system from China extends across northern Thailand and the South China Sea. The department scheduled its next warning issue for 5 p.m. on October 17.
In the second phase, the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chanthaburi were singled out for torrential rain on October 21–22. (GSM, based on the Thai Meteorological Department warning)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Andaman Sea 海面降雨。Rain over the Andaman Sea. Photo by Nata Mostova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
