WINDS of up to 30 knots and heavy rain brought the monsoon season to Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang last night and early today.
Peals of thunder and lightning heralded the drenching over Phuket City soon after midnight.
Sixty percent of the four provinces had rainfall, with waves of up to a metre off the Andaman coast. Flooding occurred in some parts.
Scattered showers are forecast today, with an end to sweltering conditions that triggered heat rash and concern for the health of the elderly and very young children.
The arrival of overcast skies may also save the Phuket region's coral reefs, which were bleaching white and in danger of permanent damage caused by the unusually extended period of heat. Normally, the monsoon arrives at or soon after the Songkran Festival in mid-April.
Daytime temperatures around Phuket yesterday reached 35 degrees, with very high humidity. A large drop in humidity is expected today.
The Phuket tourism season between April and October was promoted for the first time last year as ''Summer'' but locals still refer to it as the monsoon/rainy/wet/green season.
Phuket Coral Bleaches White as Heat IntensifiesPeals of thunder and lightning heralded the drenching over Phuket City soon after midnight.
Sixty percent of the four provinces had rainfall, with waves of up to a metre off the Andaman coast. Flooding occurred in some parts.
Scattered showers are forecast today, with an end to sweltering conditions that triggered heat rash and concern for the health of the elderly and very young children.
The arrival of overcast skies may also save the Phuket region's coral reefs, which were bleaching white and in danger of permanent damage caused by the unusually extended period of heat. Normally, the monsoon arrives at or soon after the Songkran Festival in mid-April.
Daytime temperatures around Phuket yesterday reached 35 degrees, with very high humidity. A large drop in humidity is expected today.
The Phuket tourism season between April and October was promoted for the first time last year as ''Summer'' but locals still refer to it as the monsoon/rainy/wet/green season.
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The storm last night was quite fierce but welcoming. The reservoirs are pretty much empty in my area, so hopefully this has helped them for now.
Here's to many more wet and stormy nights in the "summer season".
Posted by Tbs on May 13, 2010 08:01