Thailand Country Report on PTC

1. Report on the impact of tropical cycloneIn 2015, Thailand was much warmer and drier, annual rainfall averaged over the

country of 1,419.6 mm, was 168.1 mm (11%) below the 1981-2010 normal. During early rainy season due to a combination of the absence of the monsoon trough influences and El Nino episode, unusual dry and warm conditions occurred in Thailand. The annual mean temperature of 27.9 °C, 0.8 °C above normal, was the second warmest year in Thailand on 65 years record same as 2010 (the warmest year is 1998). The mean temperature was above normal for all months especially December and November which was 2.1 and 1.9 °C above normal, respectively. The maximum temperature reached the new highest record in several areas. Besides, there was only one tropical cyclone namely “VAMCO (1519)” that moved into northeastern Thailand at Ubon Ratchathani province on September 15. The details are as follow.

In January and February, the weather in the morning over Thailand was cool nearly the whole areas, especially in the northern and northeastern parts where cold weather was reported in several places and very cold weather was found in some places with extreme minimum temperature, 5.7 °C, at Nakhon Phanom Agromet.Stn. in Nakhon Phanom province on January 14 and was 3.0 °C in the area of mountain top at Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang in Chiang Mai province on February 18. While daytime temperature increased with hot weather, causing highest variation of diurnal temperature in February. However, the mean temperature during this period was below normal almost the whole country. Unseasonable rain for few days especially in northern and central parts brought 23.9 mm (41%) above normal rainfall over Thailand in January.

Late February, the southerly and southeasterly winds brought warmer condition and summer season to Thailand. After that, heat low pressure cell occasionally covered upper Thailand causing generally hot weather with very hot weather in several areas till May. Mean temperature over Thailand was clearly above normal especially 1-2 °C above normal in all regions in May with new highest record of daily maximum temperatures in some areas. The maximum temperature recorded of the year was 43.1 °C at Si Samrong in Sukhothai province on April 20. Moreover, unseasonable rain with thunderstorms, gusty winds and hails was intermittently reported. Nevertheless, summer rainfall was below normal in most areas of Thailand. The maximum daily rainfall in this summer was 175.0 mm at Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei province on April 24.

May 2015 was actually drier than usual with less and uneven distribution of rain, monthly rainfall was 46 % below normal, the lowest of the year. However, during May 21-23 Thailand experienced successive rainfall in many areas that considered as the beginning of the rainy season of the year on 22 May 2015. After that, there was scanty rainfall and hot to very hot weather in some areas mainly in upper Thailand until mid-July. The maximum temperature in several observation stations soared to a record-breaking with more than 1 °C beating the previous record in some areas. The maximum temperature recorded of the rainy season was 41.1°C at Chai Badan in Lop Buri province on 11 June 2015 and at Kamalasai in

Kalasin province on July 3 and 4. However rainfall was increasing when the tropical cyclone “KUJIRA (1508)” located in the upper Vietnam during late June with the low pressure cell in the Gulf of Tokin and Vietnam in July. Moreover, abundant rainfall and flash floods in some areas of central, eastern and southern Thailand affected by tropical storm “VAMCO (1519)” which moved to Thailand as tropical depression at Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani province in the morning of September 15 before moving further to Myanmar and the Gulf of Bengal on September 18. Monthly rainfall in July and September was 5% and 4% above normal respectively. The highest daily rainfall of 2015 was 300.3 mm at Rattanawapi in Nong Khai province on July 28.

Upper Thailand prolonged plentiful rainfall with flooding in some areas during early October then temperature and rainfall continuously decreased in northern and northeastern parts. Thailand turned to winter during late October. Moreover, during November and December, a pattern of high pressure area from China extending to cover upper Thailand was mainly propagated eastward to dominate the South China Sea resulting in an overall mild winter across Thailand with intermittent cool weather in the northern and northeastern parts. Mean monthly temperature of this period was anomalous warmth in all parts of the country particular in upper Thailand where notable warmth exceeds 2.0° C above normal. For rainfall, with the passage of the westerly trough over upper northern part coupled with the easterly wave moving through lower northern, central and eastern parts, upper Thailand periodically experienced unusual rainfall during late year causing above normal monthly rainfall in most of upper Thailand. In southern part, monthly rainfall was below normal especially in the east coast although rainfall was produced by the influences of northeast monsoon almost the period with the low pressure cell in the lower southern part and lower portion of the Gulf of Thailand during 23-24 December. Monthly rainfall over the country in November and December was below normal. The highest daily rainfall was 200.9 mm at Ban Na San in Surat Thani province on November 29.

Figure 1: Track of tropical cyclone affected Thailand

Figure 2: Thailand’s Monthly Rainfall Anomalies (%) in 2015 (2-1), and Thailand’s Monthly Mean temperature Anomalies (oC) in 2015 (2-1).

2. Report on Meteorological Component2.1 Weather Forecasting

TMD’s received the government budget in 2016 will development of weather forecast system which will establishment hardware and software in 2016. The model composed of 3 domains: Domain-1 is resolution grid 18 kilometer square, Domain-2 is resolution grid 6 kilometer square and Domain-3 is resolution grid 1 kilometer square. High resolution WRF Bangkok model (resolution 1x1 km. vertical 35 levels) was run at TMD for urban weather forecasting and improvement for Bangkok and vicinity short range weather forecast.

2.2 Operational Room

Operational Room will development for meteorologist can use observations,

seismic, numerical weather prediction and climate models data, to support meteorologist,

expertise and administration to decision making for weather forecast: the very short range,

short range, medium range and long range forecast to the relevant authorities, also public and

private data to use management.

TMD’s received the government budget in 2016 will development of War Room

at Weather Forecast Bureau of TMD, to establish hardware and software will be finish the

end of year.

2.3 Meteorological Satellite

Japan government, through Japan trust fund with WMO kindly provided HimawariCast, received station and related software for TMD.

Himawari Satellite tool established the top TMD’s building can measure every 10 minute and operate on routine.

2-1 2-2

2.4 Weather Radar

TMD’s radar network totally 26 sites, compose of S-band Doppler radar 5 stations, C-band Doppler radar 16 stations, X-band Doppler radar 5 stations. TMD will establishment a new C-band Doppler radar at Nan station of Nan province and also a new one to replace the old C-band Doppler radar of Ubon Ratchathani station in 2016.

2.5 Telecommunication

TMD’s received the government budget in 2016 will development the global telecommunication (GTS) to integrate data support ICAO.

3. Report on Hydrology component.

1. OverviewThe river system in Thailand provide into 25 main river basins. Which hydrology and

water management comes under the care of two government agencies: Royal Irrigation Department (RID) and Department of Water Resource (DWR).

The area affected by Tropical cyclones are the western region of Thailand. This year (2016) is not affected by Tropical cyclones in Thailand. During 1St of April 2015 until end of March 2016, the trend of the precipitation is a bit less than average compare with the past record. It’s the main reason to make the capital water in the reservoir is rather less than normal and this cause the strong drought area all of Thailand. The amount of rainfall occur in the lowland and downstream of the large reservoirs like Srinakarin Dam and Wachiralongkorn Dam so it’s complicated to support the agriculture activities and also the water supply.

The drought from the less precipitation in west area of Thailand. From 1St of April the capital water in the large reservoirs in West of Thailand like Srinakarin Dam and Wachiralongkorn Dam were less than normal as well as the natural flow in the river that

occurred less than the minimum record.

Figure 3: Schematic of Kranchanaburi Dam

Figure 4: Schematic of Srinakharin Dam

Figure 5: Hydrology of K.10: Kwai Nai river, Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi Province.

Figure 6: Rainfall Average of K.10 Kwai Nai river, Sai Yok District of Kanchanaburi

Province.

Figure 7: Hydrology of SW.5A Salawin River Mueang District Mae Hong Son Province.

These graphs showed that the water year 2015 is suspected to be drought for agriculture activities and also water supply. This is caused the obstruction for the economy development.

Hydrograph show hydro station K.10 in Mae Klong Basin that discharge less than normal that occurred less than a minimum record. At hydro station SW.5A in Salawin Basin that discharge almost less than normal and nearby a minimum record. But in August has higher discharge because during 2-15 August 2015 monsoon trough lies across upper Thailand and Myanmar.

However, RID has duties to measure the water quality and provide for the water supply and agriculture in the irrigation area.

2. Forecasting and Communication.The RID has strategies for flood prevention and mitigation, as well as impacts in

urban and cultivated areas, with aims to reduce the loss of lives and properties of population at risk. Management plans are set in terms of monitoring, predicting and warning by establishment of Water Watch and Monitoring System for Warning Center (WMSC) to examine flood situations 24 hours. In addition, the collaborations with national related agencies for implementation plan cope with local flood protections in economic zones where severe flood may occur.

The state-of-art technologies were established, such as telemetry and flood forecasting systems. Similar to 544 manual river gauges (27 stations decrease from 2013) and 2,294 manual rain gauges, 23 of 25 main river basins have 710 telemetric stations and 430 telemetric micro stations installed for water resources management and flood prevention and mitigation.

RID and collaborated with other agencies related to discussion and making decision during flood situation under the government to reduce the lost from Typhoon and tropical cyclone-related disasters for monitoring and analysis of flood situation.

Coordinate and exchange information of climate, rainfall, runoff and water operation to analyze and forecast the future situation for water management before announcement to public.

To improve the telemetering system to the rural area which is the high risk area for flood warning and develop the communication system to disseminate flood information like on website or text messages.

Figure 8: The committee for Monitoring and Analysis of Water Situation.

Figure 9: RID Data Center and Communication.

4. Report on DRR component.

The Cabinet has endorsed the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation plan 2015, it is the 2nd Disaster Management Plan and undergone a participatory planning process, where related sectors were engaged, including public, private and civil society. The above mentioned Plan has enforced related sectors of all levels to implement the plan, to develop

their own action plan and to incorporate projects and programmes on disaster risk management into their annual plan, and particularly for the Budget Bureau, concerned agencies and local governments to give priority to projects/programmes on disaster risk reduction, emergencies response and recovery in a sustained manner. The improvement and evolution of this National Management Plan is derived and gathered from lessoned learned from global, regional, national and local level and the trend of future disaster.

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has assigned Disaster Management Center as dissemination center for providing early warning to the public, after receiving severe storm forecasting from Thai Meteorological Department or Regional Meteorological Center, Disaster Management Center will inform disseminate warning messages to DDPM provincial offices in risk area by LINE application or Fax or radio channels. DDPM provincial office will report the warning messages to the Governor, Province Public Relation Office and risk prone community via telephone or fax to prepare for evacuation.

Additionally, Ministry of Interior by DDPM under the organizational structure of National Emergency Operation Headquater/ Incident Command Center, Emergency Support Function 5, Emergency Management, the duties of monitoring, providing early warning messages to the public and related agencies and preparing for evacuation are under DDPM, MOI.

The Cooperation with agency concerned, DDPM has 76 provincial offices and 18 Regional Centers, they are working closely with community level and other government organizations to provide victim assistance and share data and information for disaster management. (included typhoon and storm forecasting data sharing with Thai Met)

During normal situation, DDPM by Disaster Prevention Promotion Bureau cooperates with DDPM provincial offices to provide CBDRM Training Approach (Community Base Disaster Risk Management) to support risk prone communities to handle with disaster during emergency. The community people know and understand their risks better than people who live outside prone areas.

The main challenge is Thailand has more than 10,000 risk communities from land slide and flash flood, according to the constraint of budget, it is difficult to provide CBDRM training to all risk areas in a short period of time.

In order to integrate effectively early warning systems to vulnerable communities, DDPM has promoted and developed CBDRM approach for risk communities by providing training them how to prepare and respond to disasters properly. The CBDRM activities include conduct risk assessment, prepare risk map, set up warning system for community etc.

DDPM has recognized the importance of socio-economic impact in Macro sector which also affected by large scale disaster, therefore, DDPM has cooperated with, NESDB JICA and ADPC to promote BCP (Business Continuity Plan) to private sector and SMEs. BCP can support private sector and SMEs work smoothly while disaster occurs and reduce economic lost from disaster. In addition, in normal situation we conduct exercises regularly with other government organizations and related sectors to ensure the appropriate preparedness.

5. Report on Training and Research components

5.1 In 2015, Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) sent officials to attend in the trainings supported by WMO as below:

No.

Meeting/Training Title Date and Place No. of participants

1. GURME Training Workshop on urban air quality modeling for ASEAN countries

7-10 April 2015

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

1

2. Attachment Training at RSMC Tokyo 2015 22 – 31 July 2015

JMA Headquarters, Tokyo Japan

1

3. International Training Workshop on Tropical Cyclone Forecasting

3 – 14 August 2015

New Delhi, India

2

4. Training of Trainers Course on climate Field Schools (ToT on CFS) and Workshops on the Global Framework for Climate Services for Asia-Pacific Countries (GFCS Workshop)

25 – 28 August 2015

Citeko Indonesia

2

5. Training on Meteorological Disaster Management for Official from Developing Countries

WMO RTC Beijing

7 – 18 September 2015

1

6. The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Jump-Start Training Session and CAP Implementation Workshop

22, 23-24 September 2015

Rome, Italy

1

7. International Short-term Course on Flood Forecasting and Warning for South and Southeast Asia

26 October – 1 September 2015

Roorkee, India

2

8. Fourth Capacity Building Workshop of the Data Buoy Cooperation Panel (DBCP) for the North pacific Ocean and its Marginal seas (NPOMS-4)

Busan, Republic of Korea

2-4 September 2015

1

9. Group Fellowship Training on Instrument Maintenance and Calibration

Nanjing, China

2 – 27 September 2015

1

10. Training on Regional Satellite data usage, designed Specifically for satellite data users in RAII, 9, 13 Nov. 2015

JMA, Tokyo, Japan

9 – 13 November 2015

1

11. 8th International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (IWTC-VIII)

And 3rd International Workshop on Tropical Cyclone Landfall Processes (IWTCLP-III)

2 – 10 December 2015

Jeju, Republic of Korea

1

12. Training on Tropical Cyclones Forecasting and Warning

7 – 11 December 2015

RTC Nanjing, China

2

5.2 During 2015, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) organized a two- week Training Workshop entitled “Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP) Regional Subproject for the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia Training Workshop on Severe Weather Forecasting and Warning Services” at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in Bangkok from 14 to 25 September 2015, with the aims to facilitate the participation of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the Bay of Bengal and Southeast Asia involved in the SWFDP Project and enhancing them on the use of existing Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) products for improving meteorological warnings, and supporting emergency response to hazardous weather conditions and weather-related hazards. The Workshop was conducted successfully with participation of all 49 participants from the nine participating countries in the SWFDP-Bay of Bengal namely: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and the five participating countries in the SWFDP-Southeast Asia namely: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Besides there were all 15 resource persons/lecturers from WMO, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, India, Japan and Vientnam, participated in the Training Workshop. The event was funding supported from WMO and TMD as the host country.

5.3 In the beginning of 2016, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Office in Bangkok and the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) organized a Training course on Hydrology (Advance Flood Forecasting, Flash Flood Forecasting, Remote Sensing and GIS) for the Myanmar Officials from 18 January to 17 February 2016, at TMD Headquarters, under the Trilateral Cooperation Framework between Japan, Thailand and Myanmar with the full financial support from the JICA Office in Bangkok and the TICA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The Training course was jointly developed and implemented by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand. Among these, TMD was assigned as the main agency responsible for conducting the training, with the aim to provide participants with knowledge and techniques on advance Flood Forecasting, Flash Flood Forecasting, Remote Sensing and GIS in order for them to further utilize in their operational works to support the natural disaster prevention and management in Myanmar. The training was attended by five trainees from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) of Myanmar. During training, the trainees were arranged to visit to the KaengKrachan Dam and Phetchaburi Dam at Phetchaburi Province of Thailand to learn about weather nature in Petchaburi province, how to utilize rainfall data, discharge data, geographical map and other relevant information, to make a plan on water resources management for consumption, industry and agriculture in Petchaburi province as for their study case. The participants also study visited to the meteorological stations of TMD, HuaiSai Education Development Center and Chang-Hua-Mun” Royal Initiative Project. The training course was designed to integrate the topics relevant to Meteorology, Hydrology, Water Management, Flood Mitigation and Risk Management in order for participants to be transferred as much as possible on the aspects concerned for their application in disaster prevention and management related to meteorology and hydrology.

Picture 10: Mr. Charoon Laohalertchai, Director of Meteorological Development Bureau (TMD) (who stand in the middle) took a group photo with lecturers, TMD staff and five participants from DMH, Myanmar after the opening ceremony of the Training course on the morning of 18 January 2016, in front of the statute of Admiral Kromluang Chumporn Khate Udomsakdi, the Founder of TMD, at TMD Headquarters in Bangkok.

Picture 11: Myanmar participants courtesy called on Dr. Songkran Agsorn, Deputy Director-General of TMD in charge of Technical Services on the first day of the training.

Picture 12 and 13: Dr. Songkran Agsorn, Deputy Director-General, TMD presided over the closing ceremony of the training and presented certificates to participants, held in the afternoon of 17 February 2016 at Bussarakham Meeting Room, TMD Headquarters. The Closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Wattanawit GAJASENI, representative of TICA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, Mr. Masanari Yanagiuchi, Senior Representative of JICA, Mr. Katsuya Miyoshi, Representative of JICA, Mr. Thada Sukhapunnaphan, Representative of RID, Mr. Charoon Laohalertchai, Director of Meteorological Development Bureau, TMD and some of

Thai lecturers.

Picture 14 : Dr. Songkran Agsorn, Deputy Director-General, (who stands in the middle, second row) took a group photo with TICA and JICA, RID representatives, TMD staff and five participants from DMH, Myanmar after the closing ceremony.

5.4 Two Staffs of RID joined the Training for WGH AOP4 on Operational system for Urban Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping (OSUFFIM), held in Sun Yat-Sen University Guangzhou, China, 15 November to 14 December 2015.

Figure 15: Operational System for Urban Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping (OSUFFIM) project activities this year was the field survey in the southern region of Thailand for select the most suitable pilot city.

Research: TMD cooperation with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the qualitative precipitation estimation (QPE) from satellite use monitoring and warning, support hydrology (the Royal Irrigation Department: RID, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand: EGAT, the Department of Water Resources: DWR), and also water management.