Jackets ready, Bangkok's poised to plummet to 18C!

A few days after the new year countdown and the extra-long holiday that followed it, you may have started to notice that waking up early in Bangkok has changed slightly. The hot and humid weather has a slight coolness creeping in. For those who leave home early in the morning, you may have already felt an unusually cool breeze.

Good news for those who love cool weather. As of January 7, the Thai Meteorological Department forecasts that this week, temperatures in Bangkok and surrounding areas will likely drop by approximately 1-3C, with minimum temperatures possibly reaching around 18C. This is a rare period when city dwellers get to pull out their warm clothes for use.

The main cause is a rather strong cool air mass from China covering upper Thailand, resulting in cool to cold weather in many areas, especially in the North, Northeast and upper Central regions. Bangkok, its vicinity, and the East will experience cool weather in the morning with slightly strong winds.

Moving down to the South, the atmosphere will be slightly different, with some areas in the lower South still experiencing heavy rain due to the influence of the strong northeast monsoon. Anyone planning to travel to the sea, especially the Gulf of Thailand side, should check the weather conditions carefully before departure, as wind and waves are quite strong, and small boats should refrain from going out to sea during certain periods.

Another piece of good news is that the dust situation in upper Thailand is currently at low to moderate levels and is decreasing as stronger winds help blow it away. This can be considered a period when the air is quite favourable for outdoor activities.

This week, don't forget to bring a jacket with you when leaving home, just in case you’re caught off-guard by the cold wind in the morning and evening. And if you have an umbrella in your bag, it will provide even more peace of mind, especially for those who need to travel far or have plans to go down south. Don't forget to make the most of this cold spell before the warm clothes have to go back into the closet for another year.