People living in Thailand’s southern provinces should brace for heavy to very heavy rain, possible flash flooding at mountain bases and river overflows from Friday until Monday.

The Meteorological Department also advised mariners to exercise extreme caution when venturing into the Gulf of Thailand over the weekend, due to strong winds and high waves, and to avoid stormy areas, where waves may reach over four metres.

Small vessels should remain ashore for their safety.

The department attributed the bad weather to the convergence of an intensifying low pressure cell, which is moving towardsthe tip of the Vietnamese peninsula, and a strong north-eastern monsoon, which is looming over the Gulf and southern Thailand.