The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has issued a warning about heavy rainfall expected from August to September due to the La Nina phenomenon, although the total rainfall for this year is projected to be 26% below average.
Deputy Secretary-General Paitoon Kengkarnchang indicated that the weather would transition to a typical La Nina pattern from July through the end of the year.
Thailand’s rainy season officially runs from May 20 to mid-October, according to the Meteorological Department. Rainfall is expected to decrease from June to mid-July, but heavy rainfall, comprising 60-80% of the total, is anticipated from August to September. This heavy rain may cause flash floods in many areas, and at least two storms are expected to impact the country.
“Despite experiencing a La Nina pattern this year, the total water amount is expected to be 26% less than normal,” Mr. Paitoon noted. “Some reservoirs might have lower water volumes, while others may have more, necessitating effective water management plans tailored to different regions.”
State agencies are collaborating to enhance early warning systems for floods, aiming to minimize damage to local communities affected by the rain.
Since the onset of the recent rains, 1,078.1 billion cubic meters of water have flowed into 35 major reservoirs nationwide. This water distribution includes 28.9% in the North, 15.9% in the West, 15.6% in the South, 20.9% in the Northeast, 12% in the East, and 6.8% in the Central region.
Currently, reservoirs hold 41.185 billion cubic meters of water, or 51% of their capacity, compared to 43.370 billion cubic meters, or 55%, last year.
Regarding rice planting, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will urge farmers to expedite planting during the rainy season. There are 62.44 million rai available for rice cultivation, covering both irrigation and non-irrigation zones, with 1.29 million rai already planted, according to the ONWR.
