Rain, thunder, wind gusts to continue

Cambodia will continue to experience rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds over the next two days. Typhoon Bebinca is expected to impact the regional weather, while the monsoon over the Andaman Sea will affect the Mekong River Basin and other areas in the country.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology issued a weather notification for Cambodia from September 16 to 18. The forecast indicates that upland areas will experience rain, thunderstorms, and wind gusts affecting up to 50% of the region. Highlands are expected to see similar conditions covering 55% of the area, while 40% of coastal regions will experience stormy weather.

A potential change in rainfall may occur as the 13th typhoon of the season, Bebinca, influences the weather. A strong southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea and a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Thailand are expected to impact the Mekong River Basin, the South China Sea, and other areas in Cambodia.Cambodia is projected to experience changes in temperature, with the lowlands having a minimum of 23 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 34° C, the highlands a minimum of 23° C and maximum of 33° C, while coastal areas will have a minimum of 23° C and maximum of 33° C.

At the same time, waves in coastal areas will have an average height of 0.50 metres and a maximum average height of 2.25 metres.

Oeurng Chantha, Undersecretary of State and the spokesman for the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, said the annual average temperature for the region is 25° C, but predicted this year it will be 24° C.

He added that flash floods will continue until the end of the rainy season, which usually finishes in October, but in recent years the season has finished later in November.

He said that the Ministry is monitoring and evaluating weather conditions in the region, and the water level of the Mekong River continues to rise, but has yet to reach the alert level.

Soth Kimkolmony, spokesman of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said the NCDM has emergency response teams ready in case of floods.