THIS gaping hole appeared in the road over Patong Hill yesterday and was photographed by a reader about 4.30pm. More of the roadway soon collapsed.

The whole island was deluged most of the day as August continued to be much wetter than usual.

September on Phuket is reckoned to be the wettest month, averaging a touch over 400 mm of rainfall. May follows, with round about 350 mm on average.

October nudges 300 mm, while July and August are round about the 260 mm mark . . . on average.

This year, August seems to have been full of grey skies and water. Does it mean that September will be drier?

We hope so. And even the most sophisticated meteorologists can't forecast more than a few days in advance what the weather will be . . . otherwise it would be possible to determine before leaving home which months will be ''Summer'' on Phuket and which will be plain old low/wet/rainy/monsoon/green season months.

We suspect the idea of creating a giant umbrella that unfurls to protect the whole island when necessary is probably earning someone a large preliminary planning fee as we speak.

In the background of reader Bernie's excellent photograph we think we can spy a couple of Tesco Lotus supermarket trolleys that have grown fed up with being left in the rain in the car park and have decided to take off for Bali. Trolleys are not very good with directions.

Wet Phuket Delivers Double Dousing in August
Latest Statistics from the Bureau of Meteorology confirm that parts of Phuket are twice as wet as they were last year in August. But that depends whether it's north, south, or east Phuket.
Wet Phuket Delivers Double Dousing in August

Patong Hill Reopens: VIP Caught in Phuket Storm
Patong Hill Reopens Patong Hill closed to traffic until 8pm. A senior bureaucrat is rescued by the Navy while on a private trip with young friends to Phuket as storms cause flooding, landslip.
Patong Hill Reopens: VIP Caught in Phuket Storm


Phuket Lashed by Torrential Storm, Flooding
Photo Album Can an island be wet and dry at the same time? Yes if it's Phuket, where an alcohol ban today was accompanied by a furious downpour.
Phuket Lashed by Torrential Storm, Flooding


Thai Wife 'Had Expat Murdered for US$1 Million'
Latest A Thai woman organised her husband's murder for a US$1 million insurance policy, the brother of the victim, a frequent visitor to Phuket, has told Phuketwan.
Thai Wife 'Had Expat Murdered for US$1 Million'

Governor's New Committee To Check All Projects
Latest The Governor of Phuket has announced a new layer of scrutiny for all development projects and says environmental reviews will be tougher from now on. New laws could follow.
Governor's New Committee To Check All Projects

Update: Police Raids Uncover 'Coral Fish Gang'
UPDATEPolice have raided the bus station in Takuapa, Phang Nga, and found more coral reef fish in their pursuit of poachers connected to a Phuket gang who operated from Rawai.
Update: Police Raids Uncover 'Coral Fish Gang'

Phuket Should Hail This Honest Taxi Driver
Latest How do people stay honest in a world where everyone needs money? A Phuket taxi driver has some advice: don't overlook the truly important things in life.
Phuket Should Hail This Honest Taxi Driver

Phuket Riot Police, Protesters Block Airport Road
Photo Album Here we go again, some people must have thought when the road to Phuket airport was blocked by riot police and protesters. But it turned out to be a fullscale practice drill.
Phuket Riot Police, Protesters Block Airport Road

Phi Phi Deaths Riddle: Norway Chases Answers
Latest Police in the home district of one of the young victims of the riddle of Laleena Guesthouse on Phi Phi are reopening the investigation and hoping to determine a cause of death.
Phi Phi Deaths Riddle: Norway Chases Answers