Department warns of summer storms, high temperatures

Summer storms will bring heavy downpours across parts of the Northeast, Central, East and South over the next few days, brought on by a low-pressure system moving over the upper parts of the country, the Meteorological Department warned yesterday.

The low-pressure front — which will be active until March 7 — combined with a strong, south-southeasterly wind, will bring overcast conditions and cause temperatures to hover between 38 and 40 degrees Celsius.

The front will cause weather changes all the way to the South, with the department warning of possible showers and waves of up to one metre in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

Between March 8 and 9, a cold front from China will move towards the region, causing storms as it clashes with the prevailing low-pressure warm front across the country.

Those living in the North and the Northeast should expect stormy conditions with heavy rainfall and lightning strikes during the period.

Waves of between 1 and 2 metres are expected across the South, according to the announcement.

Separately, satellite images and data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Agency (Gistda) showed as of 8am yesterday, five provinces reported extremely high levels of the ultra-fine PM2.5 pollutants — far above the safe threshold for exposure over a 24-hour period of 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre set by the government.

Nakhon Phanom reported the worst fine dust pollution, with PM2.5 levels averaging 82.8 μg/m³, followed by Mukdahan (82.5μg/m³), Kalasin (76.5μg/ m³), Phayao (76μg/m³), and Roi Et (75.6μg/m³).

Thirty-one provinces were reported to have unhealthy levels of fine dust pollution. Bangkok, meanwhile, has had reasonably good air quality over the past several days, according to Gistda.

According to satellite images taken by Gistda on Sunday, there were 1,015 fire hotspots across the country, 355 of which were in forest reserves.

Myanmar reported the most hotspots in the region, with 3,963, followed by Cambodia (1,686), Laos (1,030), and Vietnam (335).

Due to an ongoing fire across the border, Preah Vihear (Phra Viharn) National Park in Sri Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district, which lies on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, will remain closed until March 8.

Jit Ardsanjorn, park chief, said that the smoke from the fire affected several areas in Thailand, especially around Noen Nub Dao, on the eastern slopes of Pha Mo E Daeng.

Park officials and officers from Preah Vihear Forest Fire Control Station and soldiers are currently working to control the fire and to build more firebreaks.

Firetrucks and extra officers have been put on standby in case of further fires, Ms Jit added.