It's cold in Thailand
Anyone who thought that the weather in Thailand is always nice and that the sun always shines with high temperatures, will be disappointed during this period. It is especially cold in the evening and at night in Pattaya with 18 ° C and due to the sea breeze a feeling temperature of even 16 ° C.
A windbreaker is indispensable on the moped and at home windows and doors close, air conditioning in the bedroom is not necessary. But it could be even worse, in the mountains of Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai, trees and plants are covered with frost at a temperature of -2 ° C. The Thai KNMI warns of thunderstorms with gusts of wind and hail in the North and Northeast. Temperatures in those areas are expected to drop 8 to 10 degrees below "normal" until next Sunday.
The government instructed the Ministry of the Interior to take necessary measures. For example, areas with a temperature below 15 degrees are declared a disaster area for three days, so that residents are entitled to emergency aid.
The minimum temperature in Chiang Mai yesterday was 14° C. With frost on the ground in some areas. 19° C. was measured in Chiang Rai and Phayao and 11° C. in Mae Hong Son. The local public health departments especially warn young people and the elderly, especially in the higher areas, to dress warmly.
Buriram is also suffering from the cold with 15 ° C, while it has also rained heavily - very unusual at this time of the year. The provincial government reports that more than 300.000 people need warm clothes and blankets. Aid workers have already distributed 1000 blankets and other relief items in Lahan Sai and Ban Kruat districts. A 20.000 liter water tank has also been installed in Ban Somjit village in Lahan Sai district.
The first deaths from this cold snap have already fallen. In Udon Thani, a 51-year-old Thai was found dead in a tent. Doctors stated that the man, dressed only minimally, died of the cold and rain after falling asleep in a drunken stupor. In Phrae, a 62-year-old Thai was overcome by the cold and died.
Source: The Nation
Here where I live (Isaan) it is also cold. The thermometer indicates a maximum of 16C in the morning and evening. Many locals walk in thick clothing and go into the woods en masse during the day to gather wood. In the evening they sit around a campfire to warm themselves. Last night in the car suffered from condensation on the inside of the windshield. In the car with 6 men it was warmer than outside, so the air cooled down on the window and the excess moisture settled.
Two years ago duvets were distributed to the poorer people of the village. The government had 20 duvets brought. The village chief handed out 16 and 4 disappeared into his house. I had already been in there once and I noticed that there were 6 duvets on a cupboard; now there are 10!
Here in Chiangdao (Chiangmai) it was 6 degrees this morning at 7 o'clock. Only after about eleven o'clock it will be almost 20 degrees. This is the first time again, after years of far too warm winters. When I moved here 9 years ago was it from the end of November to the beginning of February. So cold or sometimes even colder 4 degrees and during the day it often remained below 20 degrees. The people here in the village then sit by a fire drinking tea in the evening. cold (with those thin wooden walls)
I currently reside in Surin,
The thermometer showed 6° this morning at 30:11 am !! At. But the sun soon rose, and during the day it was reasonable to do.
+/_ 20°. I've never experienced it this cold in the morning here before.brrrrr!
I don't know how long you have been in Thailand, but the normal temperature during the winter is around 25 degrees during the day and 14-15 degrees in the evening and night.
Don't be a smartass, Kanchanaburi, Cees mentions 7 and 20 degrees in his response, Ton mentions 11 and 20 degrees.
So that's well below what you consider normal, right?!
The cold causes a lot of trouble especially for the Thais, who live in houses that are not made for these temperatures. That was the core of my message!.
Hello readers,
Yesterday by bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai and from there rented a car to Mae Hong Son,
apart from the 4 hour drive in the dark with all hairpin bends, my
Thai girlfriend and I very cold, have searched in vain for the heater on the way
the car but unfortunately, there are cars here that are not equipped with a heater!!!!!!
There are some cars here equipped with heater such as the most expensive edition of Mitsubishi Mirage.
Gringo, you put into words what is most affecting us here in Thailand right now. The cold and especially the unpleasant wind. Never thought I would have to sleep under a double duvet here. The houses in Thailand are not built for these conditions. Blankets and warm clothes are essential. Even in the car I would like to turn on the heating, but it is not there.
A question. Why does the installation of a large water reservoir help to dispel the cold? There's no hot water coming out anyway, I presume.
Good question Jacques, I can't imagine that this would create a warm Gulf Stream. Just saw on TV that 2 degrees is issued in Chiang Mai with frost on the ground. Fruit trees in the bud so spray to prevent freezing!!
Where I am in Bangkok it is otherwise very hot, yesterday morning I was eating outside when there was a lot of wind, and I was in a draught, then I got cold for a while. I went out into the sun and started sweating again.
I wouldn't call it bloody hot.
No temperatures as we can read with the others, but it has been a lot cooler the last few days.
With me in Dan Khun Thot it is 20 degrees at night in our living room with the windows open and during the day the mercury does not climb higher than 23 degrees with the doors and windows open. The weather service indicates for Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima) min. 12 degrees at night and max. 23 degrees during the day. We have some winter clothes and blankets left over from when we lived in Belgium and they come in handy now. Should it get even colder, we still have a number of sleeping bags that we could use, but I don't think it will go that fast. Usually the cold period here only lasts a week and then it gets warmer again. By the end of the week, 27 degrees are already indicated for Korat. There was a thick fog hanging here early the day before yesterday after it had rained heavily the night before, but that only stayed with that one morning.
Here with us in Isaan today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the temperatures will drop to about 11C during the night hours. Even in cities such as Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Korat, temperatures will drop to around 11C.
The town of "Loei" still records the coldest temperatures every year, with even snow + ice in the mountains in the province of Loei.
We have been staying in Chiang Mai for a while, a friend of ours also measured only 8 degrees last night there, of course it is colder this time of year, but the people here say that these are the coldest temperatures in years, especially the wind makes it very 'cold' .., it is strange to see that people wear thick coats even with 15 to 20 degrees during the day! For us a bit of acclimatization, we unfortunately leave for Belgium at the end of the month.., but hope to be back here soon and then probably for the next few years..! We Love Thailand and especially Chiang Mai, and now and then a bit cooler .. is no drama !! Grtjs,)
Also here in Phitsanulok exceptionally cold. We sit outside, but I, as a Dutchman, am wearing a thick sweater. It's really exceptional although I can also remember some cold days a few years ago but not like now. Very special, the dogs have extra blankets in the cage and we have a nice Dutch duvet.
Here in Donsila (CR) this morning it was 7 degrees outside and 12 degrees inside. Fortunately we have an electric heater, but it can't even handle the cold.
Buying an inverter tomorrow. Sure.
Yesterday it was 13 c in Maastricht (high for the time of year) and people were sitting outside on terraces! It's just what you're used to!
Not only the more expensive cars have heating, cars that are shipped to Europe all have heating, including the Ford Fiesta, Ranger and several brands.
It is normal for the temperature to drop at this time of the year.
From the 2nd week in December to mid-January, the wind exceptionally comes from the North.
It is also during this month that even more Thais are floating around with a cold!
Soon the weather will be nice and warm, enjoy some fresh air.
Bart.