Chadchart: Rain has doubled over 30 years with super typhoon moving in - Thai Newsroom

Chadchart: Rain has doubled over 30 years with super typhoon moving in

September 26, 2022  TNR Staff

BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at a meeting today (Sept. 26) that the amount of rain Bangkok received so far this month without Super Typhoon Noru having arrived is very high, being double the amount that fell in the same period 30 years ago, Matichon newspaper said.

This is clearly illustrated by Din Daeng district having received 922.5 millimetres of rain upto Sept. 25, compared to 907 millimetres over as many days last year.

"There is a lot of water this year. Just in September, our total (Bangkok) is 744 mm. compared to Sept. 30 years ago, when it was about 376 mm," he said.

"This is more than twice as much even though there has not been a full storm yet, just pressure systems.

"This is a warning that in future global warming will lead to La Niña intensifying and lots of rain falling in certain areas and having a greater impact."

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has managed the situation quite well in previous weeks as although the amount of water has doubled most of Bangkok is not flooded.

However some areas did get inundated with these being Lat Krabang, Bang Khen, Min Buri and Don Mueang but most districts are in normal condition, Chadchart said.

Super Typhoon Noru (Karding) has hit the Philippines and will make landfall in Vietnam and enter Thailand on Sept. 29, he added.

The Thai Meteorological Department said Super Typhoon Noru had moved to the South China sea at 4 a.m. this morning with maximum sustained winds near the centre of about 140 kilometres an hour. This storm is moving westwards at a speed of about 25 kilometres an hour. It will make landfall in Vietnam on Sept. 28 and together with the southwesterly monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand will intensify.

This will lead to many areas of the country including Bangkok and its vicinity getting torrential rain accompanied by strong winds during Sept, 28 – Oct, 1, 2022. 

"It can go in two directions, if it moves down Bangkok will get torrential rain, but if you look at the pattern of rain, it's probably going to fall in the Northeastern and Central regions – this morning I looked at the scenario planning," he said.

However his key concern is the water flowing down Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, which is on the eastern side, and more water flowing down the Chao Phraya river. This will pressure the eastern side of the capital and the river banks.

Three flood control measures are being implemented with one being to accelerate drainage as quickly as possible with all canals now being below the control level.

The second step is to strengthen embankments along the Chao Phraya river and various canals with an additional 2.5 million sandbags coming in on Wednesday and Friday for this purpose.

Finally communities at risk are being urged to take care of themselves.

"Over the past month we found out the flood-prone areas and now stress that communities should help prevent flooding on their own up to a point. For example adding sandbags  

"We recommend preventive methods by communities forming a united front against flooding instead of letting the floods occur then taking action," he mentioned.