Storm watch continued

Tropical Storm Gaemi is expected to gain strength and turn to west towards Vietnam, putting Thailand in its path by the weekend. Local officials are rushing to discharge water from dams in preparation for heavy rainfall.

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Weather experts predict Tropical storm Gaemi will become more circular in shape as it gains strength and moves west towards Vietnam. Photo from wunderground.com

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Storm watch continued

POST REPORTERS and NASA

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As of this morning, Tropical Storm Gaemi was still drifting southeastward off the coast of the Philippines.

Satellite images show that Gaemi is slightly elongated, which according to NASA's Rob Gutro, is an indication it is not yet fully organised.

Gaemi, he said, is expected to become more circular over the next couple of days and intensify.

More ominously, it is then expected to turn to the west and head for Vietnam, he said.

By the weekend, Thailand should to begin to feel the full effects of the storm.

The National Water and Flood Management Policy Office yesterday predicted the Northeast, especially Ubon Ratchathani, would be hit by heavy downpours brought by Gaemi on Friday.

The storm would then travel past lower northeastern and eastern provinces before hammering the Central region on Sunday and Monday with heavy rain expected in Bangkok and Pathum Thani.

Officials are rushing to discharge water from major dams so they can handle new inflows from the storm.

Heavy rainfall in the Central region is expected to increase the water level in the Pasak Jolasid dam where the water volume reached 79% of its capacity on Monday, according to the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute.

The reservoir, located in Lop Buri and Saraburi, blocks runoff from the Pasak River, which merges with the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya.

For the Bhumibol dam in Tak, which Gaemi is also expected to pass before entering Myanmar, the reservoir reached 60% of its capacity on Monday while the Sirikit dam in Uttaradit was at 67% of its capacity.

The two dams help delay runoff from the North that passes into the Chao Phraya which flows through the Central Plains and Bangkok. City officials have been told to keep a watch on the water level in Khlong Thawi Watthana in western Bangkok because canal-side communities could flood if it receives more rainwater.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, meanwhile, said yesterday the city is considering raising the sluice gate at the Pracha Ruamchai section of Khlong Saen Saep-Min Buri from Sunday to improve drainage in eastern Bangkok when Gaemi hits.

Min Buri district, where the watergate is located, has 13 flood-prone areas which are outside the city's flood walls.

The Royal Irrigation Department is also bracing for heavy rainfall by preparing 665 pumps for areas at risk of flooding, he said.

predict – to say that an event or action will happen in the future, especially as a result of knowledge or experience คาดการณ์ว่า พยากรณ์จากสถิติว่า
tropical – relating to the hottest area of the Earth, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn ในเขตร้อน
gain – to gradually get more of something  เพิ่ม
drift – to move slowly, often as a result of outside forces, with no control over direction ล่องลอย,เลื่อนลอย
coast – an area of land beside the sea ชายฝั่ง
satellite – an electronic device that is sent into space and moves around the earth or another planet. It is used for communicating by radio, television, etc. and for providing information ดาวเทียม
image – the picture that you see on a computer or television screen, or in a cinema ภาพ, ภาพบนจอ
slightly – small in size or amount เล็กน้อย
elongated – long and thin, often in a way that is not normal ซึ่งยืดออกไป
indication – a sign that something is true or exists or happened  เครื่องบ่งชี้
intensify – to get stronger เข้มข้นขึ้น
ominous – suggesting that something bad is going to happen in the future เป็นลางร้าย,ไม่เป็นมงคล
policy – a set of plans or action agreed on by a government, political party, business, or other group นโยบาย
downpour – a lot of rain in a short time ฝนตกหนักมาก, พายุฝน
hammer – to hit something hard many times, กระหน่ำ
rush – to move or do something very quickly รีบเร่ง
discharge – to let a liquid flow out ระบายออก, ปล่อยออก, ขับออก, พร่อง
inflow – the movement of a liquid or of air into a place from somewhere else การไหลเข้า,  กระแสที่ไหลเข้ามา
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
volume – an amount of something ปริมาณ
capacity –  the total amount that can be contained ปริมาณสูงสุดที่จะรับได้
Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute – a public organisation providing information on water and agriculture สถาบันสารสนเทศทรัพยากรน้ำและการเกษตร
reservoir – a natural or artificial lake where water is stored อ่างเก็บน้ำ
located – where something is ตั้งอยู่
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else  ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
runoff – rainfall that cannot be taken in by the soil and which flows into rivers, lakes or the sea น้ำหลาก, ปริมาณของเหลวที่ไหลออก
merge – (of two or more things or groups) to join together to become one รวมกัน
delay – to make something happen at a later time than originally expected หน่วง, ซื้อเวลา, ยืดเวลา
plains – a large area of flat land ที่ราบ
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
consider – to give careful thought to something before making a decision พิจารณา
sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
section – any of the parts into which something is divided ส่วน, ส่วนย่อย
drainage – the process of taking away of water or other liquids from an area  การระบายน้ำ
Royal Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
brace for – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียมรับมือ
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง