PHUKET: Dangerous weather is being forecast for Phuket and many other provinces in Thailand over the next few days with severe storms likely to be followed by floods and an increased risk of land slips.

''We have already sent notifications to all councils on Phuket to be prepared for flooding and landslips,'' an officer warned at Phuket's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. He said the warning period runs from tomorrow through to Monday, June 15.

A spokesman for the Phuket-based Southern Meteorological Centre (West Coast) was more precise, forecasting a reasonable day tomorrow to be followed by a severe storm from Wednesday on, with small boats advised not to put to sea and even ferries being told to exercise extreme caution.

''Waves could be up to two metres rising to three metres on Wednesday, with 60-80 percent chances of rain on Phuket that day,'' he said. ''Winds could range up to and beyond 35-40kmh over the next few days.''

The arrival of the monsoon is late so a strong-than-usual impact is expected.

On Phuket, Patong and Chalong are typically hit hard with canals sometimes overflowing after two or three days of heavy rain in Phuket City.

''Captains of fishing boats and all other vessels should listen carefully to forecasts for Phuket over coming days,'' the bureau spokesperson said.

A total of 34 provinces are on alert for flooding and landslips, with the southern and Andaman provinces of Chumpon, Surat Thani, Nakhorn Si Thammarat, Krabi, Ranong, Phang Nga and Trang being warned, with Phuket.

If rain persists over several days, the soil becomes saturated and can start to move. Phuket has had its share of landslips in recent years.