Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone as Flash Floods Submerge Streets, Northward Shift in Rainfall Patterns

Bangkok was declared a disaster zone by its city officials late last week after flash floods submerged streets in Thailand’s capital, with water reaching up to waist-deep levels. These floods were caused by an active low-pressure system over central Thailand, which brought continuous heavy rainfall and intense thunderstorms to Bangkok and surrounding areas.

The heavy rain began early on Thursday when the low-pressure system moved northwestward along the Gulf of Thailand before settling over central Thailand by Friday morning. This system remained nearly stationary for two days, resulting in relentless downpours across Bangkok and nearby regions. A weather station near Prachin Buri, northeast of the capital, recorded 213.5mm of rainfall within a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday evening—significantly exceeding London’s annual average of 585mm. On Sunday, the center of the low-pressure system shifted northwestward, bringing an end to the torrential rainfall.

In the central Pacific, residents of Hawaii’s Big Island braced for Hurricane Nolo’s impacts over the weekend. The system initially approached the archipelago early in the week, delivering heavy rainfall from Tuesday evening. By Saturday morning, Nolo had strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane, with sustained winds of 98–104 mph, positioned approximately 233 km south of the island. Beyond destructive winds, the storm’s extreme rainfall raised alarms about flooding and landslides. Weather stations in the island’s northeastern regions recorded over 530 mm of precipitation since late Tuesday. Current forecasts predict Nolo will continue westward, potentially intensifying to Category 4 by Monday, September 28.

Farther east in the Pacific, Hurricane Polo is projected to make landfall along the Baja California Peninsula late Monday, September 28. The storm, which once held Category 5 status, is expected to weaken to Category 2 upon landfall, with sustained winds reaching 96–110 mph. A hurricane warning has been issued for coastal areas due to storm surge risks, while intense rainfall of 100–200 mm—up to 250 mm in localized zones—is anticipated. The majority of this precipitation is likely to fall within a 12-hour window, heightening threats of life-threatening flooding and landslides. After crossing the peninsula, Polo is forecast to weaken and move northeastward across the Sonora region in Mexico.

Source link