People living in Bangkok and its surrounding areas are being advised by the Pollution Control Department to get ready for the first wave of PM2.5 (particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter) in the air from Thursday until Sunday, due to the arrival of a moderately cold front from China and poor air circulation.
Sakda Tridech, chief of the Air Quality and Noise Management Division, said that northern Thailand will experience less rainfall from Wednesday, as a cold front from China is forecast to expand and cover the north and northeast of Thailand.
He said that the La Niña weather phenomenon, which is expected to last until next March and bring more rain to the western Pacific, including Thailand, will prevent the PM2.5 problem this year from being any worse than last year.
Meanwhile, Pollution Control Department Director-General Preeyaporn Suwanaged said that the 24-hour average of PM2.5 in the atmosphere so far this year was 11% less than last year’s 31µg/m³.
She added that the department has introduced several measures to reduce PM2.5, including controls on emissions from vehicles and industrial plants, controls on burning in farming areas and forests and designation of fire control areas.
Meanwhile, the Thai Meteorological Department is closely monitoring tropical storm Trami, which is expected to pass across Luzon Island in the Philippines this Thursday or Friday, before entering the South China Sea, crossing Hainan Island and making landfall in Vietnam.
The department said Trami will be approaching Vietnam this weekend and this may result in strong winds in Thailand’s northeast.
