Rainfall and severe flooding over Thailand in 2011

This year, flash flood affected some areas in upper Thailand since mid-May. In June, heavy rainfall occurred in many locations throughout the month caused by the influence of the active southwest monsoon and monsoon trough which lies across the upper Thailand. Moreover during late June, Thailand has dominated by the remnant of tropical depression "Haima" led to heavy rainfall in several areas especially in the northern part where flash floods and landslides has reported in some areas. In July, downpour rain continued in many areas in addition with tropical depression "Nock-Ten" moved into the area of Nan province on July 31 before weakening to the low pressure cell covering the northern part. This brought heavy rain to several areas resulted in widespread flooding in north and northeast parts. During August to September, many areas such as northern, central and northeastern parts experienced wet condition caused by the active southwest monsoon and the rather active monsoon trough. Massive flooding persisted mainly in lower northern and central parts. In October, the late rainy season, the northeast monsoon prevailed over Thailand since around mid-month. Meanwhile, the monsoon trough moved southward to lie across central Thailand, bringing occasional rain. The monthly rainfall amount has decreased from the previous month especially in central part, at 2% below normal. However, associated with the high tide, severe flood and extensive damage in the lower northern part has extended to the central part including the Chao Phraya River Basin, most areas of northern, eastern and western Bangkok and its vicinity. The rainfall amount of Thailand since 1 January to 31 October was 1822.4 millimeters, about 28 percent above normal and the October rainfall was 201.8 millimeters, 10 percent above normal. Seasonal rainfall from May to October in 2011 was above normal of 20 60% for most Meteorological Station in northern part and of 10 - 40% with below normal in some areas in central part. The rainfall average compare to normal in the lower northern and central parts where were the most affected areas are shown as in figure 1. Figure 2 shown the Accumulative Rainfall of Met Station in Northern and Central Part. Detail of monthly rainfall and departures from normal in each part are tabulated in table below.

Figure 1 Mean Monthly Rainfall in Lower Northern and Central Part

Figure 2 Accumulative Rainfall of Met Station in Northern and Central Part

Monthly and Accumulative Rainfall of Thailand in 2011

PART NORTH (UPPER) Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) NORTH (LOWER) Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) NORTH Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) NORTHEAST Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) CENTRAL Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) EAST Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) SOUTH (EAST COAST) Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) SOUTH (WEST COAST) Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) OVER COUNTRY Rainfall amount (mm.) Departure from normal (mm.) Departure from normal (%) Jan 8.0 1.1 16 2.6 -2.4 -48 5.3 -0.6 -10 0.2 -3.9 -95 1.4 -4.8 -77 0.0 -14.7 -100 176.8 116.8 195 63.7 40.8 178 34.9 18.2 109 Feb 1.4 -7.9 -85 12.3 -1.2 -9 6.8 -4.6 -40 15.1 -2.6 -15 21.5 9.1 73 47.4 18.4 63 20.7 -15.3 -43 20.1 -8.6 -30 19.3 -1.5 -7 Mar 86.9 65.5 306 126.4 98.6 355 106.6 82.0 333 23.1 -14.6 -39 123.8 93.2 305 116.2 61.6 113 557.0 506.6 1005 424.2 353.7 502 191.0 150.3 369 Apr 129.7 56.3 77 110.4 47.2 75 120.0 51.7 76 79.0 -7.1 -8 112.9 38.3 51 136.3 40.0 42 63.9 -9.1 -13 118.0 -43.0 -27 103.6 17.0 20 May 253.1 85.4 51 236.9 57.7 32 245.0 71.6 41 201.1 18.8 10 222.6 62.7 39 169.4 -42.0 -20 124.8 -12.7 -9 267.1 -47.9 -15 206.1 18.6 10 Jun 242.4 96.5 66 190.3 33.2 21 216.3 64.8 43 187.2 -22.7 -11 165.8 27.2 20 277.5 5.3 2 121.4 12.3 11 231.7 -88.5 -28 199.7 10.0 5 Jul 281.1 89.6 47 232.8 64.7 39 256.9 77.1 43 319.8 111.9 54 214.9 62.4 41 258.4 -7.5 -3 141.4 28.0 25 361.9 9.5 3 259.0 57.4 29 Aug 314.3 74.6 31 234.8 23.8 11 274.9 49.6 22 324.8 66.0 26 211.8 27.9 15 333.5 22.0 7 157.6 29.4 23 461.3 57.2 14 287.3 44.6 18 Sep 278.2 76.7 38 341.5 118.4 53 309.8 97.5 46 352.2 110.3 46 256.9 -4.1 -2 465.9 132.7 40 122.3 -21.3 -15 446.9 6.7 2 319.7 67.0 27 Oct 112.6 8.1 8 153.2 11.5 8 132.9 9.8 8 182.5 71.2 64 177.0 -3.7 -2 272.9 44.5 20 241.3 -11.0 -4 308.0 -49.7 -14 201.8 17.8 10 1 Jan - 31 Oct 1707.7 545.9 47 1641.2 451.5 38 1674.5 498.9 42 1685.0 327.3 24 1508.6 308.2 26 2077.5 260.3 14 1727.2 623.7 57 2702.9 230.2 9 1822.4 399.4 28

Remark : Based onperiod for the The base 1971 - 2000 normal

normal is 1971 2000. -----------------------------------Climatological Center Meteorological development Bureau Thai Meteorological Department 2 November 2011