Bangkok: Southern Thailand is expected to face increased risks of severe weather events known as "Rain Bombs" from October 2024 to February 2025, as the region enters a La Niña phase, according to Dr. Seri Supratid, a climate change expert. Dr. Seri has warned that Thailand's disaster warning systems remain inadequate, urging the government to provide urgent support in terms of personnel, knowledge, and budget to local areas. According to Thai News Agency, Dr. Seri Supratid, Chairman of FutureTales Lab MQDC, discussed the increasing frequency of floods and heavy rains in Thailand, attributing the changes to the region's transition into La Niña. This weather pattern, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, tends to bring heavier rainfall. Dr. Seri highlighted that although Rain Bombs are more likely over the sea due to higher humidity levels, even inland areas like Uthai Thani Province recently experienced severe floods due to moisture drawn from the southwest monso on. Dr. Seri noted that the La Niña conditions are expected to cause prolonged rainfall in southern regions of Thailand, possibly extending until February 2025. There is a heightened risk of Rain Bombs during this period, which might persist until Thailand transitions back to El Niño, a phase that generally reduces the likelihood of such intense weather events. Emphasizing the need for improved disaster preparedness, Dr. Seri pointed out the current limitations in Thailand's meteorological forecasting capabilities. He argued for better distribution of equipment to local communities, which are more familiar with their specific risk areas. He recommended establishing a central purchasing center and providing training to local personnel to expedite disaster readiness. Dr. Seri referenced figures from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, indicating that Thailand has around 40,000 communities at risk of disasters. Currently, equipment is allocated to only 20 communities annually, a pace that wo uld take 2,000 years to cover all at-risk areas. He advocated for increasing support to 2,000 communities per year, which would address the issue within a decade.
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