Thailand’s Meteorological Department have advised people in northeastern, eastern and western coastal provinces of the southern region to brace for heavy or very heavy rain on Thursday as a result of tropical storm Podul, which has already moving over the South China Sea towards northern Vietnam.

Heavy up to very heavy rainfall on Thursday is forecast for Buang Karn, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nakhon Phanom and Sakhon Nakhon provinces in the Northeast, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi and Trat provinces in the eastern region and Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun in the southern west coast.

On Friday and Saturday heavy rain is expected to reach the northern provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Lampang, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Uttradit, Phitsanuloke, Phichit and Phetchabun; the northeastern provinces of Loei, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thabi, Bung Karn, Nakhon Phanom, Sakhon Nakhon, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham and Kalasin; central provinces of Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Chainat and Nakhon Sawan; eastern provinces of Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Sa Kaew, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat; and southern provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumpon, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Areas to be hit by heavy rain on Sunday include Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Tak, Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet in the North; Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri and Chainat in the Central Plains; Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat in the eastern region and Phetchaburi, Ranong, Phang-nga and Phuket in the South.