BANGKOK, THAILAND – The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a severe rain warning across large parts of the country as Typhoon Dolphin strengthens to the highest category over the Pacific.
The storm itself is not expected to hit Thailand directly, but a powerful monsoon trough is bringing relentless heavy rain through August 1. The department blames an active monsoon trough and a strong southwest monsoon for the widespread downpours.
Eastern provinces at highest flood risk
Upper northern areas, northeastern provinces along the Mekong River, and border zones with Myanmar are especially affected. Water expert Chawalit Chanthararat of TEAM GROUP named the eastern coastal provinces on the Gulf of Thailand — Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat — as additional risk zones.
Local flooding, landslides and overflowing waterways are expected in these areas. Residents and tourists in those provinces should stay alert.
Typhoon Dolphin reaches category 5
Dolphin, the 13th named storm of the year, has rapidly intensified over the open Pacific. The name, contributed by Hong Kong, means “dolphin.”
Initial forecasts saw the storm south of Japan at level 4 on the five-level scale before it hits maximum level 5 on Thursday. Authorities currently see no danger for Thailand as the cyclone stays on a northern track, heading for Japan first and later China.
Japan’s south in the crosshairs on August 7
Chawalit’s latest preliminary calculations show a possible landfall on August 7 in Kumamoto Prefecture and near Fukuoka. Those areas would face extreme torrential rain and violent gusts.
The weakened storm would then move onto the Chinese mainland and make landfall on August 9 in Jiangsu, north of Shanghai. The inland province Henan may also get hit by heavy rain around August 11 before the system finally dissipates. These forecasts for August 9 and 11 lie outside the official short-term prediction period and are therefore preliminary.
Second storm system on radar for Tokyo
Another potential storm may form around August 7 over the Pacific. Early projections show a northwestern route toward the capital region.
If this develops, Tokyo and Sendai would get very heavy rain around August 11 or 12. The expert stressed that this long-range forecast lies outside the official prediction period and must be treated with caution. The system is expected to dissipate over the Sea of Japan on August 13.
Shipping warned off Thailand’s coasts
Aside from the typhoon, the southwest monsoon has churned up the seas off Thailand’s coasts. In the upper Andaman Sea off the west coast, waves rise to two to three metres, and over three metres in thunderstorms.
For the upper Gulf of Thailand and the lower Andaman Sea, waves of around two metres are expected. Small boats in the upper Andaman Sea have been advised to stay in port during dangerous weather conditions, and all seafarers should strictly avoid thunderstorm cells.