Extreme heat in Thailand: Authorities warn, stay at home!
Thai authorities have warned residents in much of Thailand, including Bangkok, not to go outside due to extreme heat.
Parts of Asia are experiencing extreme heat this month, with record temperatures in some countries. In Bangladesh and parts of India, the extreme heat is leading to an increase in energy demand, leaving millions of people with power outages and shortages.
According to the meteorological department, the temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius in the Bang Na district of Bangkok, while the heat index - which includes relative humidity and measures how the temperature feels - hit a record 54 degrees. Authorities are warning residents to avoid outdoor activities and to be alert to the danger of heat stroke.
Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that temperatures are above 28°C in at least 40 provinces.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the recent extreme heat has broken electricity consumption records. As of April 6, more than 39.000 megawatts have been consumed. The previous record, of 32.000 megawatts, was set in April last year.
Mathinee Yucharoen, an oceanography and climate change researcher at Prince of Songkla University, told Reuters: “What is happening now is caused by climate change and a number of other factors, extreme weather is happening.”
Source: NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand
I have been coming here for a while and these temperatures are common this time of year..
Hi Dick,
It's too hot for me personally.
Perhaps inform the metrology department of your experience?
The electricity consumption will also not be properly registered then 😉
I have been living here permanently for 17 years all year round in Lamphun province, and believe me it has never been this warm at this time of year.
Jan Beute.
I've been coming to Thailand for 17 years now, 12 of which have been living and it's never been this hot in Hua Hin.
I have experienced peak afternoon temperatures of up to 47C in April in Nongkhai. April is the hottest month in Isan. No air conditioner in my bedroom. Fan on ONE, mind on ZERO and really, you will survive.
Aren't they exaggerating here? I have lived here for many years and it is not extremely hotter than usual. April is the hottest month of the year.
This must be the case in the larger cities. At our house it was 36 degrees, just like usual.
I'm even less bothered by it this year, except that I caught a cold today...
But the numbers will not lie when people consume more electricity on a large scale.
I too have lived here for almost 18 years, but have never experienced this heat. Not in Jomtien where I used to live and not here in the E-saan where I've been living for years, the Thais also think it's terribly hot. Then they would all exaggerate including the meteorological service and the radar images are probably fake.
Staying at home because of heat?
Some Thai acquaintances have no air conditioning at all. Too expensive in terms of electricity bill! They make do with one or two fans/fans.
Otherwise just hang out in one of the many Shopping Malls. Especially Terminal 21 and Central Festival (Pattaya) have low temperatures. That's almost Dutch Cold!
Best regards,
FrankyR
You see that in many shopping malls, including the normal shops such as the Big C, etc.
Parking spaces for cars and mopeds are full.
But there are no people to be seen in the supermarket itself.
Free cooling down with a drink or order lunch, and stare at the mobile phones there.
Don't blame them for the current energy prices, not such a big problem for most farang, but even more so for the vast majority of the Thai population.
Jan Beute.
I have been visiting Thailand and neighboring countries since 2004. I have never experienced these temperatures before. It's crushing and unliveable. This was the last time I come here in April/May because this is an attack on my health. January and February are dangerous because of air pollution. Other choices urgently need to be made...
I have also been living 80% in Thailand for years, see Isaan. I'm a grim reaper, don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, don't sport and eat light Thai food. It has been many years since I have experienced such extreme heat. Until now, my wife and I have regularly retreated to the bedroom, not to sleep, but to enjoy a few hours of air conditioning. Even riding my scooter somewhere in the afternoon made me retrace my steps more than once and feel nauseous.
Once the temperature exceeds your own body temperature, there is a real problem to function more or less normally. As mentioned here, this is very stressful for the body and mind. The fact that the temperature does not drop during the night is also anything but pleasant. If it's possible for us, we will pitch our tents somewhere else in April and May in the following years.
The broadloom concrete carpet from facade to facade without greenery in almost all cities will also have an influence on the temperature. In the Netherlands, many millions of euros are now being 'invested' in sacrificing lanes and sidewalks for green areas. Perhaps they can take an example of this in TH.
Sounds like a good idea.
I think that tourism will move to green cities and areas in a few years.
I've seen Thailand's deforestation since the 80s.
Unfortunately, more money is made by building houses and supermarkets than by planting trees