Many provinces in the South will experience torrential rain from Thursday into Tuesday next week, with a warning for people in risk areas to prepare for flash floods and forest runoff.

The upper part of Thailand will also see rain in some areas, which will come with colder temperatures and strong winds, the Meteorological Department forecast on Tuesday morning.

From Thursday until Friday, rain is forecast for Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon provinces.

In the lower South, heavy rain will continue until Tuesday next week, mainly in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces.

The rainy weather is influenced by strong northeasterly winds moving onto the Gulf of Thailand and the southern region, the department said.

Waves in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea will be stronger, reaching up to three metres high. Small boats should exercise caution and remain in port during stormy weather.

People living or travelling in the region are advised to prepare for rain accumulation, which could lead to flooding and forest runoff, especially in areas near foothills and streams.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that  flooding persisted on Monday in some areas in the southern provinces, but water levels were receding.

The upper part of the country can expect rain from Thursday to Saturday, forecasters said. Temperatures would drop by 2-4°C with developing strong winds, influenced by a high-pressure area and cold air mass expanding out of China.