The Meteorological Department reported that the depression storm in the Gulf of Thailand had made landfall over Prachuap Khiri Khan at 4am on Wednesday and then weakened into a low-pressure area covering Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon provinces before travelling west towards the Andaman Sea.

The department warned local people in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces of possible flash floods from the prolonged heavy rains. It also advised people planning to travel to the South to check weather updates before starting their journey.

According to the automatic precipitation measuring stations in the South, the heaviest amount of rain up to 136 millimetres within 24 hours was recorded at Tambon Mae Ramphung in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district.

A satellite image showed thick rain clouds over the entire upper part of the Southern Region up to Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi in the Central Region.

The heavy rains in Prachuap Khiri Khan have already caused flash floods over Phet Kasem Road in Thap Sakae district.

Apichart Chanthanyakorn, director of Prachuap Khiri Khan Highway District, urged transporters to be cautious while driving on the flooded highway.

The Meteorological Department also forecast heavy rains for Ranong, Phang Nga, and Phuket on the Andaman Coast on Thursday.