In short
- Warning window: 9 to 13 October 2026, issued by the Phuket disaster prevention command centre after a Thai Meteorological Department announcement on 7 October.
- Main hazards: flash floods, forest runoff, landslides and waves above two metres in thundery areas of the Andaman Sea.
- Patong flooded on the night of 6 October; the Nanai area around Soi 8 is named as flood-prone.
- No curfew, no Phuket airport closure and no domestic travel ban announced.
What to do
- 1Check the Thai Meteorological Department and DDPM Phuket bulletins before you travel, then every morning on the island.
- 2Move cars, motorcycles and belongings to higher ground if you stay in a flood-prone area such as Nanai in Patong.
- 3Stay away from waterfalls, caves, forest trails, underpasses and the sea while the warning is in force.
- 4Call 1784, the national disaster hotline, or Patong Municipality on 076-342600 for help or sandbags.
What has changed?
Our previous story covered Phuket monitoring running to 7 October, with the island's pumps and sandbags already in place. According to the Bangkok Post, the provincial disaster prevention command centre has now widened and hardened its warning: heavy to very heavy rain from 9 to 13 October 2026, with flash floods, forest runoff, landslides and rough seas listed as the main hazards.
It follows a Thai Meteorological Department announcement on 7 October 2026 describing unstable weather across the South, with thunderstorms, gusty winds and isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, caused by a cold air mass from China over upper Thailand, a monsoon trough across the upper South and the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea. Waves in thundery areas can exceed two metres. October is still rainy season on the Andaman coast.
Who is affected, and where?
Everyone on Phuket between 9 and 13 October, especially in Patong and in flood-prone or hillside spots. Heavy rain and a high tide flooded parts of Patong and caused landslides on the night of Tuesday 6 October; Patong Mayor Lalita Maneesri inspected the affected areas the next morning, according to the Bangkok Post.
- District authorities, kamnan and village headmen must watch flood- and landslide-prone areas, especially foothills and high ground.
- Waterfalls and caves close if heavy rain makes them dangerous; flooded underpasses and tunnels are shut and pumped out immediately.
- Patong Municipality has opened an assistance centre and distributes sandbags; in Nanai, around Soi 8, move vehicles and belongings to higher ground, with temporary parking at Patong Bay Hill Hotel.
What should travellers do?
- Plan beach days, boat trips and visits to Phuket's beaches around the daily forecast rather than a fixed itinerary.
- In thunderstorms, avoid open ground, large trees, unstable structures and billboards, and take care around lightning.
- Do not walk or drive through floodwater until the area is declared safe; authorities warn about electrical leakage.
- Read our safety guide before heading to the coast.
What is not changing?
No island-wide curfew, no Phuket airport closure and no domestic travel ban has been announced. The pumps and sandbag stocks prepared before this week are still in place, and the district monitoring structure is still running.
Travelling soon? Plan around it
Build a day-by-day Thailand route that keeps flexible days where the weather and transport are uncertain.
FAQ
Questions
Is Phuket airport closed?
No closure has been announced. Check with your airline before leaving for the airport and allow extra time on the road in heavy rain.
Can I still go island hopping?
Operators decide on the day. With waves above two metres possible in thundery areas, crossings can be cancelled or rescheduled; ask the day before.
Does the warning cover all of southern Thailand?
The meteorological department forecasts unstable weather across the South, but the 9 to 13 October warning was issued for Phuket province.
Sources
We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.
