Thailand's Torrential Rains Shift Northwest After Bangkok Declared Disaster Zone

Bangkok was declared a disaster zone by city officials last week after streets in the Thai capital were submerged in up to waist-high floodwater, according to the Guardian.

The flooding stemmed from an active area of low pressure over central Thailand, which brought continuous heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to Bangkok and the surrounding region. The rain began early on Thursday, as the low-pressure system moved north-westwards up the Gulf of Thailand before settling over central Thailand by Friday morning.

For roughly two days, the system remained largely in place, allowing unrelenting downpours to fall over Bangkok and nearby areas. One weather station near Prachin Buri, northeast of the capital, recorded 213.5mm of rainfall within a 24-hour period between Friday and Saturday evening local time — for comparison, London receives an average of 585mm over an entire year.

The centre of the low-pressure system shifted north-westwards on Sunday, bringing an end to the torrential rainfall over the capital. Meanwhile, Hurricane Nolo has emerged as a separate weather threat, with forecasters warning it could affect Hawaii's Big Island.

Authorities in Bangkok continue to assess the damage caused by the flooding, as residents work to recover from the disruption caused by the submerged streets and disaster declaration.