BANGKOK, THAILAND – A powerful high-pressure system from China pushed a sharp drop in temperatures and unsettled weather across Thailand.
Cold air mass triggers nationwide cool-down
A strong high-pressure zone from China reached large parts of Thailand, the national weather agency reported on Wednesday. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), temperatures in many regions fell by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius within just 24 hours. Northern, northeastern and central areas were described as “cool to cold”, with authorities urging people to pay close attention to their health.
Chilly nights and near-freezing peaks in the north
In the north, nighttime lows dropped to between 10 and 16 degrees Celsius, and were significantly lower in higher terrain. On mountain tops, minimum temperatures of 2 to 10 degrees were expected at night, with frost possible in some spots, an unusual but not unprecedented situation for Thailand. In the northeast, it also turned cold and windy, with lows of 8 to 15 degrees and 6 to 10 degrees in the mountains, where the strong wind increased the feeling of cold and particularly affected older people and children.
Bangkok turns cooler amid fire risk warnings
The central region, including Bangkok, experienced a noticeable cooldown, with nighttime temperatures in the capital falling to 17 to 20 degrees and accompanied by strong winds. Daytime values still reached up to 32 degrees Celsius, but the pronounced fluctuations were seen as a strain on the circulatory system. The weather service also warned of increased fire danger due to dry air and winds that could help spread flames, especially in rural areas.
Heavy rain threat in the deep south
While the north shivered, the far south faced the risk of intense rainfall driven by the strong northeasterly monsoon. Provinces such as Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were expected to see local heavy showers. The TMD cautioned that accumulated rainfall could trigger flooding and advised residents to monitor river levels and heed local alerts.
Rough seas in Gulf and Andaman
Conditions at sea remained tense, with waves of 2 to 3 meters forecast in the Gulf of Thailand, and even higher in thunderstorms. In the Andaman Sea, offshore waves were expected to reach about 2 meters. The weather service strongly advised small boats to stay in port and urged residents along the eastern coast of the south to watch for waves that could periodically reach the shore.
Slight relief from fine dust pollution
There was a modestly positive development regarding fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in upper Thailand, where levels were reported as low to moderate. Strengthening winds were expected to further improve air quality in the coming days. However, the outlook for how long the cold spell, rain and wind would persist across the country remained uncertain.