The Meteorological Department is advising people in Thailand to be prepared for the arrival of the hot season, expected to begin at the end of this month, especially those living in Mae Hong Son, Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Tak provinces, where the heat may be extreme during the day.
On its Facebook page today, the department said that the dry season is forecast to last until the end of May, but there may be occasional rain storms in some areas, which may provide temporary respite from the summer heat.
From the middle of March until May, northern and northeastern regions may experience freak summer storms, which will result in heavy downpours, strong winds and hail, said the department.
Temperatures in many areas of the country are predicted rise as high 44oC degrees Celsius, it added.