YuSMP Travel Editorial Team
From 5 to 9 November 2026, Thailand is under a storm and flash-flood warning covering most of the country. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued alerts for 61 provinces plus Bangkok, with a separate flash-flood warning for all 14 southern provinces, including Phuket, Krabi and Koh Samui, running from 7 to 9 November. This affects anyone already travelling in Thailand or flying in over the coming days.
What changed
On 1 November TMD issued its first advisory about unstable weather driven by a high-pressure system moving down from China combined with stronger easterly winds over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. On 3 November DDPM reinforced the warning with its own advisory (No. 2) and put rescue teams on standby in the affected regions. For context, the previous flood alert for Phuket ran from 18 to 25 October and was lifted on 30 October — this new storm system arrived only about a week later.
For general seasonal planning, see "Thailand weather by month".
Which regions are at risk
The warning splits into two phases by region and date.
TMD/DDPM warning dates and regions
| Dates | Region | Main hazard |
|---|---|---|
| 5–7 November | Northeast, North, Central (incl. Bangkok), East | thunderstorms, gusty winds, isolated hail |
| 7–9 November | 14 southern provinces: Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun | heavy rain, flash floods, landslides |
| 5–9 November | Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea | waves over 2 m, risk for boats and ferries |
Koh Samui is not formally listed among the 14 southern provinces under flood watch, but it sits in the Gulf of Thailand wave-risk zone — ferries to and from the islands can be delayed. Phuket and Krabi face the highest flood risk on 7–9 November.
What travellers should do
- If you're in southern Thailand on 7–9 November, follow official DDPM updates (hotline 1784) and local news, and skip waterfall or cave trips during this window;
- avoid sea excursions and swimming in open water while waves are elevated — rip currents strengthen during storms;
- build extra time into airport and ferry transfers — both can run behind schedule in bad weather;
- if you're flying in between 5 and 9 November, check your flight status with the airline or tour operator ahead of time, not on the day;
- keep emergency numbers handy: DDPM 1784, tourist police 1155, ambulance 1669.
Entry rules and visa requirements for Thailand are unaffected by the storm — see "Thailand visa rules for Russian citizens". It's worth checking in advance what your travel insurance covers for flight delays or cancelled excursions — see "Travel insurance for your trip". Compare other destinations for these dates via destination match.
Sources
- Nation Thailand — "Bangkok and 61 provinces on alert for storms and flash floods" (3 November 2026)
- Thairath English — "Meteorological Department Issues First Alert" (1 November 2026, citing the Thai Meteorological Department bulletin)
Weather forecasts and storm warnings are updated frequently — check the current status on the Thai Meteorological Department site (tmd.go.th) or DDPM before travelling.
