The extremely hot weather across most of Thailand came to an end on May 5th, but several eastern and north-eastern provinces continue to be hot, with temperatures exceeding 40oC for a while longer, according to Associate Professor Dr. Seri Suparatit, CEO of Futuretales LAB and a member of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.
In his Facebook post, on the subject of “Climate Promise 2025”, Dr. Seri said that the extremely hot weather covering the whole country in April and early May has ended, but there are still several central and north-eastern provinces, such as Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Roi-et, Kalasin and Sa Kaew, which continue to experience the heat.
Nevertheless, he predicted that there will be rain, averaging 10-20mm per day in some areas, particularly in the north-east, east and south and temperatures will gradually drop from May 6th.
Dr. Seri said that people across the country have experienced unprecedented hot weather, which has had a serious impact on the economy, society and the environment “as never seen before”.
He claimed that up to 40% of the durian yield this year may be damaged, because of the heat, which makes the fruit ripen prematurely and, as a result, it will not be sweet. 90% of coconut palms will not bear fruit and vineyards will see as much of 70% of their fruit damaged.
Meanwhile, Somkuan Tonjan, chief of the central weather forecasting office in the Meteorological Department, said that the extremely hot weather is over, but there is a slim chance that the peak temperature could still reach 44oC or higher.
If there is rain or if it is cloudy, the temperature will not exceed 36oC, he said, adding that the rain in Bangkok yesterday brought the temperature down, from about 40oC to between 27oC and 30oC, as he attributed the sudden change of weather to the arrival of a cold front from southern China and northern Vietnam.
He expects Thailand to enter the rainy season at the end of this month.
