The cold season in Thailand may arrive in the middle of this month, about two weeks later than usual, and it may only last about a month.
Somkuan Tonjan, head of the Central Weather Forecast Sub-division of the Meteorological Department, said today that the department has not yet declared the official arrival of the cold season because the cold front from China is not strong enough to push the temperature below 24oC.
He said that, normally, the cold season starts in the middle of October and lasts through to the following February. In some years, such as in 1983 and 1999, the cold season arrived in the middle of November.
He explained that three elements, wind, rain and cold mass, are used when assessing the cold season in Thailand, adding that the key element, the cold mass from China, has not yet arrived.
From the assessment of the weather for the next four months, Somkuan said that the average temperature is forecast to drop by fewer than 2-3oC and the temperature at ground level is not expected to drop below 20oC.
He admitted that the delay in the arrival of the cold season this year may affect the management of water resources and agriculture, adding that, normally, the Royal Irrigation Department plans the management of water resources in November.
