The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of thunderstorms and strong, gusty winds across upper Thailand, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces. Upper Thailand is expected to be affected on 5-7 November 2026. The Northeast is affected first. The South faces heavy to very heavy rain. Anyone living or travelling in these areas should know where their region falls in the sequence and which spots to avoid.
The notice widens the warning area. An earlier set of rain warnings in late October focused mainly on the South. This one reaches the central region and Bangkok. It is titled "Unstable weather over upper Thailand and heavy to very heavy rain in the South" and is issued as Notice No. 1, reference number 284/2569 (2569 is the Thai Buddhist Era year, equal to 2026).
Which regions are hit first
According to the notice, upper Thailand will see thunderstorms, gusty winds and heavy rain in some places. The Northeast (Isan) is affected first. The North, the central region, Bangkok and its surrounding provinces, and the East follow. The notice lists the areas in this order but does not say which of the last four comes first.
People in the Northeast should prepare first. Those in the other regions should also prepare in advance. The notice does not say which day, or which part of the day, each area will be hit.
The warning is mainly about thunderstorms and strong winds. Its title does not mention flooding or flash floods, so it is too early to say which areas might flood.
Spots to avoid when winds gust
The TMD urges people to be careful of thunderstorms and gusty winds. It advises avoiding three kinds of risky spots:
- Open ground
- Under large trees
- Near weak or poorly secured billboards
A simple check is to compare these with your regular routes. Think of the walk to work, the bus or taxi pick-up point, where you park, and any roadside seating. If a route crosses an open space, passes under a big tree or runs beside an unsteady sign, you already know where to be careful.
Knowing the risks beforehand lets you choose a better place to stand, park or walk before the sky darkens, rather than scrambling for cover once the rain and wind arrive. People who wait outdoors, such as at a roadside bus stop, should check whether they are standing near a large tree or a billboard.
The notice gives only these three points of advice. Treat them as the core guidance and check the TMD directly when a new notice is issued.
How to read the TMD warnings
The TMD lists its warnings on its website at www.tmd.go.th/warning-and-events/warning-storm. The page runs from newest to oldest. Each entry shows the notice number, the reference number, the date of the data and the title. Notice No. 1 (284/2569) is at the top of the list. The TMD says people with questions can call its hotline on 1182. The department lists that number on the same warning page.
"Notice No. 1" may look like the first warning of the year, but it is not. The numbering has restarted. The earlier series of southern rain warnings ran up to Notice No. 11, and Notices No. 9, 10 and 11 were dated 27-28 October. This notice starts a new series at No. 1. The reference number 284/2569 continues from the previous reference number, 283/2569. A notice number going back to 1 does not mean earlier warnings have disappeared. It means a new series has begun.
What the notice does not say
Notice No. 1 uses data as of 1 November 2026. That is the date of the data, not the period when the weather will occur. The title gives 5-9 November, which includes the South. The text says upper Thailand will be affected on 5-7 November. Readers in the central region and Bangkok should focus on the latter period.
For the South, the title says heavy to very heavy rain. The notice does not list southern provinces, so people there should check the TMD for the latest information.
A newer notice could change the title or the time frame described here. The TMD has not said when the next notice will be issued, so check the warning page again before the affected period begins.
Source: Thai Meteorological Department, Notice No. 1 (284/2569), and its warning page at https://www.tmd.go.th/warning-and-events/warning-storm.
This article is adapted from ViewNews' Thai-language report.
