Most parts of Thailand, starting with northeastern and eastern regions, will be hit by heavy rain from tomorrow until Friday, resulting from Typhoon Molave, which is heading toward central Vietnam, according to the Meteorological Department forecast.
The Category 5 storm was located in the central South China Sea, at Latitude 13.4 degrees North and Longitude 115.5 East, at 4am today (Tuesday). Packing 140kph winds at its centre, it has been moving west towards Vietnam at a speed of 25kph and is expected to make landfall in central Vietnam tomorrow (Wednesday).
After hitting central Vietnam, the Met Office said that the storm will steadily weaken but, coupled with the increasing strength of the southwestern monsoon winds, this climatic change will bring heavy rain and strong wind to Thailand’s upper northern region, northeastern, eastern, central and southern regions. These include the northeastern provinces of Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi-et, Yasothon, Muk Dahan, Amnat Charoen, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani and eastern provinces of Prachin Buri, Sakaew, Chanthaburi and Trat.
Facing heavy rain on Thursday and Friday are Phetchabun, Phitsanuloke, Phichit, Sukhothai, Tak and Kamphaeng Phet in the North, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Roi-et, Yasothon, Muk Dahan, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani in the Northeast, Bangkok and it peripherals, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani Chainat, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Sing Buri Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon in the Central Plains, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Sakaew, Chon Buri, Chanthaburi and Trat in the East and Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumpon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun in the South.
Rough seas are forecast during the same period in the Andaman Sea and in the Gulf, with 2-3 metre high waves and 3-metre waves in stormy areas. Sailors are warned to exercise caution and are advised to avoid stormy areas. Small boats should remain ashore.
