Thailand probably faces two more storms later this year

BANGKOK, July 22 (TNA) - The Meteorological Department has warned that Thailand may face two more storms with heavy downpours and possible temporary flooding later this year, including Bangkok and the southern region. Meteorological Department Director-General Wanchai Sak-udomchai made the warning at a seminar on future storms and weather forecast in Thailand, held in Bangkok on Friday, following the Super Typhoon Nepartak in China with critical impacts recently and an indication of the fluctuating world climate. Based on updated data, Wanchai acknowledged, temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are now suitable for the formation of storms and Thailand could, thus, face at least two storms later this year although his agency cannot determine yet when and how strong the storms would be. Wanchai said if a storm was formed late this year, the Thai South should be a region at risk and seaside areas could face floods or flash floods. The weather agency chief also predicted that Thailand could see more downpours late this year, which should be good to help increase water levels in the country's dams although low lying areas and hillsides should be flooded or hit by runoffs. (TNA)