BANGKOK, July 16 (TNA) — The Meteorological Department has warned that the amount of rainwater this year may be the lowest in a decade and people should try to store rainwater during July 16-20 as rare heavy rain is expected.
Kanrawee Sitthicheewapak, deputy director-general of the department, said after the rainy season began on May 20, the amount of rainwater this year was much lower than its average level in the past decade, especially in the North and the Central Plains that were important farming regions.
Rain in both regions was the lowest in ten years and water shortages were likely in many areas, she said. She attributed the weather condition to the weak southwestern monsoon. El Nino had nothing to do with it, she said.
“People, especially farmers, should store water particularly from July 16 to 20 when rain will increase in the country because of a storm in the Philippines,” Miss Kanrawee said.
During the period rain is expected in the upper Northeast, the East, the West, greater Bangkok and the South. Afterwards rain would decline, she said.
Later, there might be a storm next month, Ms Kanrawee said. (TNA)
