In short
- The warning runs from 24 to 28 October 2026 and covers southern Thailand on both coasts.
- Heavy to very heavy rain, flash floods and rapid runoff are expected near foothills and low-lying rivers.
- Waves in the Andaman Sea can exceed two metres during thunderstorms.
- The earlier Krabi warning ran from 18 to 25 October; the new one is broader and longer.
What to do
- 1Check the latest Thai Meteorological Department warning before each travel day.
- 2Keep a day's margin around ferry, speedboat and boat transfers.
- 3Do not drive, ride or walk through flooded roads.
- 4Confirm your crossing or flight with the operator if thunderstorms are forecast.
What changed since 19 October?
On 19 October we reported a warning for Krabi running to 25 October. The Thai Meteorological Department has now issued a new warning covering the whole of southern Thailand from 24 to 28 October 2026, according to the Bangkok Post. It reaches three days beyond the earlier window and is no longer limited to a single province.
The driver is a strong monsoon trough lying across the middle of the South, combined with a high-pressure system from China pushing moisture from the South China Sea into upper Thailand. The result, per the same report, is widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain on both coasts across the five days.
Who is affected, and where?
The warning covers the Andaman coast — Phuket, Krabi and Railay, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak, Koh Lipe and the Trang islands — as well as the Gulf coast, including Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Kood and Koh Mak.
- Flash floods and rapid runoff, especially near foothills and along low-lying rivers.
- Widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain on the east and west coasts.
- Waves above two metres in the Andaman Sea during thunderstorms.
Rainfall totals may exceed what local drains and natural waterways can carry, the report adds, so flooded streets are possible in built-up areas, not only in the countryside. If you are moving between islands this week, our guide to Thailand ferries explains which crossings run in bad weather, and the rainy season page shows what October normally brings region by region.
Nothing in the warning indicates that Bangkok, the north or the north-east are affected, and the advice to stay out of flooded roads and to be careful at sea is unchanged. Our safety guide covers the practical side of travelling in heavy rain.
What should you do?
Local authorities recommend preparing an emergency kit, moving valuables to higher ground and not attempting to cross flooded roads, according to the Bangkok Post. For a traveller the practical version is shorter: keep a margin around boat transfers and skip waterfall or jungle hikes on the wettest days.
- 1Check the forecast on the morning of each transfer, not the day before.
- 2Ask your hotel or operator whether the crossing is running before you leave for the pier.
- 3Keep documents and electronics in a dry bag.
- 4Do not take a scooter onto a flooded road; the water hides potholes and debris.
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
Does this warning cover Bangkok or the north?
No. It applies to southern Thailand only, on both coasts, from 24 to 28 October 2026.
Will ferries to the islands be cancelled?
Not automatically. Operators decide on the day according to actual sea conditions; the warning states that waves in the Andaman Sea can top two metres during thunderstorms.
Is this the same warning we reported on 19 October?
No. The Krabi warning of 18 to 25 October has been followed by a broader warning covering the whole south until 28 October.
Sources
We cross-check each story against official pages and several media, and rewrite it in our own words for travellers.
