Experts sound drought warning for next year

As Typhoon Wipha weakens, its immediate impacts, such as flooding in parts of the North, are gradually receding.

- JUTAMAS TADTHIEMROM

However, experts are sounding the alarm over more serious challenges ahead, including flash floods, water shortages, and a potential drought crisis in 2026.

The Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) is warning that rainfall across Thailand is expected to decline by 4-9% during August and September.

This is part of broader shifts tied to climate change, including the transition from La Niña to either neutral (La Nada) or El Niño conditions, factors that will affect Thailand's water availability well into next year.

At a public forum titled "Water and Climate Alert: Rain Monitor for 2025 Storm Forecast", held on Wednesday, HII analysts warned extreme weather events are likely to increase in intensity and unpredictability.

Sudden droughts, driven by fluctuating rainfall, are expected to emerge in the latter half of this year, particularly affecting southern and inland provinces.