Wanchai Sakudomchai, Acting Director General of Meteorological Department announced today (November 7), “The low pressure area will become stronger, covering the South China Sea about 700 km east of Songkla province.
“The trough will move past lower southern Thailand, south of Chumpon province. There will be heavy to very heavy rain in the South of Thailand and wave heights will rise to as high as 3 metres.
“All those living in the South of Thailand from Chumpon down [especially on the Gulf of Thailand coast] may experience flooding and mudslides. All fisherman must stay ashore.”
A weather prediction map by Somporn Chuai-Aree (see video) shows the storm gathering intensity and speed as it leaves Phuket on Sunday or Monday and heads across the Bay of Bengal, crossing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Tuesday before hitting India on Wednesday.
UPDATE: Similans are closed from today until Monday (Nov 8-10 inclusive) because of heavy seas. Surin Islands are still open but heavy weather there too, and tour companies have been warned it's better not to go there.