Southern Thailand battered by severe monsoon rains; airport urges two-hour buffer

Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport in Southern Thailand has issued a critical advisory, urging all passengers to allocate an additional two hours for their journey to the airport. This directive comes amidst severe monsoon rains, strong winds, and high seas battering the region, significantly increasing the risk of travel disruptions, flight delays, and potential cancellations. Despite the challenging weather, the airport confirms it is currently operating as scheduled, with flights running normally as of Thursday morning.

The urgent warning follows the Thai Meteorological Department's (TMD) eighth advisory, detailing the ongoing threat of heavy to very heavy rainfall across Southern Thailand until Sunday. The Eastern Coast Southern Meteorological Center attributes these extreme conditions to a potent Northeast Monsoon and a trough traversing the lower Gulf of Thailand. Seven provinces, including Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, face a high risk of flash floods, forest runoffs, and landslides.

While Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport maintains normal flight operations, the pre-emptive advisory aims to mitigate passenger inconvenience from potential ground transportation issues and unforeseen operational adjustments. Passengers are strongly encouraged to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest flight status updates or to rely on official SMS or email notifications. The severe weather also impacts maritime activities, with high waves in the Gulf of Thailand prompting a strong recommendation for small craft to remain in port until the conditions improve.