On Thepkrasattri Rd in front of the main SuperCheap store in Rassada – a regular site for minor flash flooding – water levels across the road rose ranged from 30 centimetres to 70cm deep, causing traffic tailbacks.
Small vehicles were unable to pass, though some motorists tried to go brave the floodwaters but failed, causing damage to their vehicles.
Meanwhile, a section of road about 200m long one kilometre to the south, near the Big C store, saw water levels rise to 30cm deep. Small vehicles could pass through the affected area, though with difficulty, but street food vendors were quick to pull down their stalls before the floodwaters did that for them.
Officials were dispatched to help direct traffic and assist motorists, while local residents brave the rain to help remove debris clogging the drains.
The deluge was short-lived and traffic returned to normal with no accidents or injuries reported in the affected areas.
Chokchai Patarapongpaisan of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) urged people to beware localised rainstorms after 13 houses were damaged when strong winds brought down trees during a rainstorm in Pa Khlok on Sunday night (Mar 4).
“Rainstorms can come every year, especially in the summer from March to April,” Mr Chockchai said.
“Residents should cut down any trees and remove any other tall structures from beside house in case of strong winds. Fishermen should avoid also sailing when there is thunderstorm,” he said.
Mr Chokchai suggested that people keep an eye on the TMD weather radar for Phuket (click here), as rainstorms were likely to continue through April.
“And in April the situation can possibly intensify, but we do not expect that there will be any major flooding,” he told The Phuket News.
“Thunderstorms are expected almost every day in this period and heavy rain with strong wind, and maybe rainstorms, can also happen,” Mr Chokchai said.
Thunderstorms during this time of year were more likely to occur at night, he added.
“Sometimes, we cannot predict the weather as in the morning there may not be any clues that a thunderstorm or rainstorm will happen, but at night, after about 8pm, thunderstorms or rainstorms can suddenly occur,” Mr Chokchai explained.
“That’s why we cannot warn people in advance,” he said.
Additional reporting by Pakin Intajak