Cold season may arrive in mid-November, last just a month

[reader]

From Thai PBS World 

The cold season in Thailand may arrive in the middle of this month, about two weeks later than usual, and it may only last about a month.

Somkuan Tonjan, head of the Central Weather Forecast Sub-division of the Meteorological Department, said today that the department has not yet declared the official arrival of the cold season because the cold front from China is not strong enough to push the temperature below 24^oC.

He said that, normally, the cold season starts in the middle of October and lasts through to the following February. In some years, such as in 1983 and 1999, the cold season arrived in the middle of November.

He explained that three elements, wind, rain and cold mass, are used when assessing the cold season in Thailand, adding that the key element, the cold mass from China, has not yet arrived.

From the assessment of the weather for the next four months, Somkuan said that the average temperature is forecast to drop by fewer than 2-3^oC and the temperature at ground level is not expected to drop below 20^oC.

He admitted that the delay in the arrival of the cold season this year may affect the management of water resources and agriculture, adding that, normally, the Royal Irrigation Department plans the management of water resources in November.

[scott456]

Oh no.  Wear your fur coat!!

[Kostik]

This is interesting news. I like it if the air temperature is 22-24 and the sea temperature is 26-28 👌

[vinapu]

12 hours ago, Kostik said:

This is interesting news. I like it if the air temperature is 22-24

that low ? In Thailand ? Perhaps in Chiang Mai but Bangkok  ? Certainly not when I was there in Dec 21 and Jan 23 

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, vinapu said:

that low ? In Thailand ? Perhaps in Chiang Mai but Bangkok  ? Certainly not when I was there in Dec 21 and Jan 23 

Daytime temperatures in Bangkok's 'winter season' very rarely fall below around 28. It will be a little cooler in the evenings and can drop down 4 or 5 degrees. Chiang Mai is certainly cooler, especially in the evenings when you will almost certainly need a sweater.

As @reader's article points out, much depends on China. If it is below freezing in Beijing, the winter monsoon will ensure that some of those cold winds will extend down as far as Thailand leading to cooler weather. I was once having a short vacation in Hua Hin bewteen Christmas and New Year when it was pretty cool just lying by the pool.

But the winter monsoon can blow in at any time. I recall one late November spell in Hong Kong, normally one of the loveliest months weather-wise, when daytime temperatures dropped to what felt like a bitterly cold 12 degrees. Check what is happening temperature-wise in Beijing in the winter period and you can be sure this will have some effect on Thailand a few days later.