Storm wreaks havoc on traffic
Online reporters
A tropical thunderstorm on Monday afternoon caused citywide havoc and traffic snarls after it knocked down trees and power lines on busy streets and forced the BTS skytrain operator to suspend service on a Silom Line section.
Strong winds and heavy rain, which began at about 3pm, brought down 14 power poles on a section of Sarasin Road — from Ratchadamri to Witthayu. They blocked the road and damaged 22 cars.
A fallen tree from inside the National Police headquarters created havoc for the BTS system for several hours. KOSOL NAKACHOL
Shortly after the rain, a large dead tree in front of the Royal Thai Police headquarters on Rama I Road was uprooted by gusty wind and fell on the elevated BTS skytrain track between Siam and Ratchadamri stations, forcing operator Bangkok Mass Transit System to temporarily suspend the service between the two stations and police to shut down traffic lanes on the road.
The gusts also toppled trees on Witthayu and Rama VI Roads, as well as ripped down a large advertising billboard on Kanchanaphisek Road.
Police Radio FM 91 station reported a major downpour in Din Daeng, Lat Phrao, Petchaburi, Phaya Thai and Ratchayothin, which caused heavy traffic congestion in and nearby areas including Asoke and Sukhumvit late into the Monday night.
BTS president Arnat Arpapirom said commuters travelling to Bang Wa station, the last station of Silom Line, were required to change trains at Ratchadamri station as BTS and City Hall staff were clearing the collapsed tree to re-open traffic. Those travelling to National Stadium, the first station of Silom Line, from Bang Wa must also change trains at Ratchadamri, he said.
The Silom Line resumed normal service at about 7pm, according to Mr Arnat.
Earlier story
It's the end of April when the sun is at its highest point in the sky during the year. That and clearing skies look likely to cause a new wave of high temperatures starting about Friday. THANARAK KHUNTON
Heat to return, weather department says
Our online reporters chose an appropriate headline for their weather story yesterday:
Thailand will melt again next week
It won't quite melt, but the hot season looks likely to return, sending temperatures into the upper 30's in Bangkok and over 40 in some other areas of the country, starting about this Friday.
The Meteorological Department said on Sunday that there will be a return to sweltering heat over the next few days with temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius again after a welcome bit of relief over the weekend.
Director-general Wanchai Sakudomchai said a high-pressure system covering the upper part of Thailand is weakening and that will cause less rainfall in the North and Northeast on Monday and Tuesday. After this, rain will gradually reduce in the Central Plains.
The country will be hit with “very hot” conditions with 40-plus degrees Celcius during the final days of April.
Actually, while the temperatures over the past few days have been lower, the humidity has been very high, making it feel much hotter.
Let's hope the humidity goes down when the new heat wave arrives.
Adapted from a story by our online reporters.