Forty provinces have been warned to brace for heavy rain and possibly very heavy rain today and the next few days as an indirect effect from super Typhoon Mangkhut which hit the Philippines this morning.

National Water Resources Office deputy secretary-general Samroeng Saengphuwong said Saturday Mangkhut is steadily weakening after making a landfall on Luzon island of the Philippines as it is heading westward toward China’s Hainan island, Vietnam and southern China.

Although weakening, the storm will strengthen the southwestern monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand and this will bring more rain to the central, eastern and the western coast of the South during Sunday and Tuesday and the northern, northeastern and eastern regions between Monday and Wednesday.

The 40 provinces predicted to be lashed to heavy up to very heavy rain are Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phetchabun, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buri Ram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat Lop Buri, Saraburi, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Krabi, Phuket, Trang and Satun.

Despite heavy rainfall, Samroeng said  rivers and water catchment areas in river basins in these provinces are still capable of absorbing more rain.