Flood warning as Chao Phraya rises, but rainmaking continues at Bhumibol Dam

The Region 12 Irrigation office on Thursday issued a warning still about the continuing rise in the water level of the Chao Phraya river, but at least six large dams are suffering from insufficient water intake.

Please join us on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/bangkokpostlearning

Flood warning as Chao Phraya rises, but rainmaking continues at Bhumibol Dam

The Region 12 Irrigation office on Thursday issued a warning about the continuing rise in the water level of the Chao Phraya river to governors and residents of seven provinces in the Central Plains.

The provinces are Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya and Lop Buri. 

The warning said a monsoon trough lying across the North, the Northeast and the upper Central Plains from Aug 27-30 dumped heavy rain on upper Thailand, increasing runoff flowing into the Chao Phraya dam reservoir in Chai Nat province.

At 6am on Thursday, 708 cubic metres of water per second was flowing through the dam gates, but the rate would rise to 900 cu/m per second. This would raise water levels in the river downstream from Sapphaya district of Chai Nat to Sena and Bang Ban districts of Ayutthaya.  

The regional irrigation office said it would begin discharging water at 900 cu/m per second each day. Doing so would raise the water level in the Ayutthaya section of the Chao Phraya river by 80-120 centimetres. The water volume running through the Chao Phraya dam would exceed 900 cu/m per second if there were more heavy rain.

Authorities in the seven provinces were advised to warn residents and businesses on the river banks of the danger, and urge them to closely monitor the water level.

Rainmaking continues 24 hours per day above the Bhumbol Dam in Tak. Post Today photo.

Meanwhile, Post Today reports that artificial rainmaking continues 24 hours a day in the area above the Bhumibol Dam which, despite recent rain, is only about 35 percent full, and of that, only about ten percent is available for use.

Lertsak Riewtrakulpaibul, director-general of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, says that water levels in at least six large dams are still "worrisome" and warned farmers not to overplant rice during the coming season. One or two more years of conservation will be necessary, he warned.

สามารถฝึกอ่านออกเสียงและดูคำแปลได้ที่ : http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/1076673/flood-warning-as-chao-phraya-rises-but-rainmaking-continues-at-bhumibol-dam