Cyclone Nargis Heads Towards Thailand
According to CNN and BBC News, Cyclone Nargis that hit parts of Burma with such ferocity is forecast to be heading towards Thailand. However, I’ve just checked the website of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) and they predict that the weather front will continue to weaken and eventually dispel tonight. Here’s what the TMD website say in their weather warning:
“Downgraded from tropical depression “NARGIS”, the active low pressure cell keep on weakening and will dispel tonight. The succession of torrential rain likely remains over the North, the Central, the East and the South until 5 May. People in disaster areas should beware of flooding conditions during 4-6 May. The areas include as following provinces: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Chumphon, Ranong, Chanthaburi and Trat. The southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand is intensifying and causes high sea 2-3 meters in the Andaman Sea and 2 meters in the Gulf but 3 meters above 3 meters. All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats should keep ashore until 6 May 2008.”
Considering we are still in hot season, the weather in the past week has been unusually wet for many parts of Thailand. I’m in Chiang Mai and the recent week of cooler weather and intermittent rain follows exceptionally high temperatures in the first half of April. At the time of writing there is no sign of any impending storm although there was heavy rain this morning, so maybe the TMD have got it right.