The Meteorological Department on Wednesday predicted heavy rain and strong winds in the South, the Northeast, the East and the North from July 17 to 20 due to the influence of Typhoon Rammasun. Songkran Agsorn, deputy director-general of the department, said that Typhoon Rammasun had left the Philippines and was centred over the middle of the South China Sea. It would move towards Hainan Island in China on July 18 and 19 and strengthen the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand