Fifty-five provinces have been placed on alert for heavy to very heavy rain, flash floods, waterlogging and landslides from Saturday to Monday due to the influence of Tropical Storm Maysak.
Teerapat Kachamat, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said the storm was not expected to make landfall in Thailand but would bring heavier rain when combined with a monsoon trough over the North and upper Northeast and a fairly strong southwest monsoon.
Heavy rain is forecast in 17 northern provinces, 15 northeastern provinces, 15 central provinces and eight southern provinces, raising the risk of flash floods, forest runoff, landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.
Mr Teerapat said authorities were monitoring areas expected to receive more than 90 millimetres of rain within 24 hours.
Strong winds and high waves are also forecast off Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket and Krabi. Waves in the upper Andaman Sea are expected to reach 2–3 metres, rising above 3 metres during thundershowers.
The lower Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand are forecast to see waves of about 2 metres, rising higher in stormy conditions.
Authorities have been instructed to monitor weather conditions, rainfall and water levels, deploy emergency teams, speed up drainage in flood-prone areas and prepare temporary shelters if evacuations are needed.
They have also been told to warn tourists, close waterfalls and caves if conditions become dangerous.
