Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 12th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 12^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

It's mostly cloudy over Koh Samui this morning but there are some small blue holes in the cloud cover and the sun works hard to get through. It's dry though and last night had no rain. The situation on the island is each day getting more back to 'normal'. Current temp at 7am is a cool 25C

Today is a compensation day for 'Constitution Day' which was celebrated last Saturday. This means that all banks, schools and governments buildings and the like will be closed today. A 'bank holiday' as the English would call it.

On Koh Phangan it's very similar to Koh Samui, a mostly cloudy sky with a few blue breaks or holes in it. Yesterday morning we had rain but the afternoon turned nice again with a bleak sun. Current temp at 7am is 25C

Beautiful drone picture of Big Buddha during the recent lovely weather. Flat oceans, partially blue skies and no rain (ok then, just a little bit sometimes)! 

Yesterday saw small amounts of rain at various times of the day at different parts of the island, Overal it was a nice day though and ma temp reached 29C

Picture and all rights by Richard Barrow

A lovely drone shot of Haad Chao Phao on Koh Phangan, where I currently am teach the PADI IDC for December 2016 on Koh Phangan. This picture is exactly from one year ago, when Thailands best known travel blogger Richard Barrow visited Koh Phangan.

The forecast is looking good, all that hard rain seems now to really have disappeared. Do expect rain showers though, but not strong and most likely not too long. Next weekend the wind may pick up a bit and there may be some more rain, like a good all day long rain shower. We will wait and see how this pans out though, hopefully it will weaken before the next weekend hits us.

This more like you can expect during the monsoon, without the massive amounts of torrential rain we had during the the first December week and it's accompanying floods.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 11th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 11^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

As unusual how the recent torrential rain and floods around Koh Samui were last week, as unusual is the weather during the recent two days and this morning for a December. It looks like a nice and sunny day is shaping up with a nice blue sky in the making with most likely no rain or very light local showers. Current temp at 7am is 25C

On Koh Phangan we have a very similar soon to be blue sky to look forward to and most likely also no rain is expected here, although there was rain yesterday evening and during last night. Current temp at 7am is 25C

The current PADI IDC on Koh Phangan and PADI IDC Staff courses are in full swing here.

Picture and all rights by Joe Clasby

Chaweng lake yesterday morning. The previously drowned benches are visible again and soon the promenade they stand on as well. Slowly but surely the water is receding here and now most floods around the island are gone or shrinking, like here at Chaweng lake

Yesterday we saw a slightly cloudy morning but a glorious and rather unusual for December, sunny afternoon. The beaches started to fill p with people and everybody was soaking in the sunshine again. There may have been some showers overnight or isolated local ones. Max temp reached 31C

Between Haad Chao Phao and Haad Yao on Koh Phangan yesterday. A lovely sunny afternoon sky and calm waters.

The forecast ahs changed a bit again and the previously predicted strong rain and wind for next weeks Thursday and Friday are back again, after they disappeared off teh screen in yesterdays foreast. We will have to see how this pans out and if it will be really that much rain coming down by the end end of next week.

For the time being however, enjoy the unexpected sunny days around Koh Samui.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 10th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 10^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

Thta's it folks, it seems the floods and torrential rain around Koh Samui are over and done with. Koh Samui seems to be back to normal, with clouded skies and sometimes a ray of sun but more likely a short or longer light to hard shower but not torrential as it sued to be during last week. Time to move on and look forward to sunnier days, although that may not be until next year! Many people did have damage to their houses and they are still worrying and trying to fix their homes. 

All roads are totally accessible again but locally water run off from the mountains may still cause puddles for a while to come.

This morning we have partially cloudy skies with a chance of rain. There was rain last evening and night. Current temp at 7am is 26C

At Haad Yao on Koh Phangan we have a cloudy sky but it's dry after rain yesterday evening and last last night. Current temp at 7am is 26

The PADI IDC on Koh Phangan for December 2016, the last PADI IDC program of this year, has started yesterday, under a torrential rain but ended with a sunny afternoon.

Big Buddha, bathing under a nice sun, two days ago. The weather has remained pretty similar since with yesterday some light rain thrown in during the morning.

Yesterday saw some light rain during the morning around Koh Samui and hard rain to torrential rain on Koh Phangan. Around Koh Samui it was sunny early in the morning again and on Koh Phangan it took until around noon for the sun to break through. Max temp reached 31C

The sky ove Haad Yao beach on Koh Phangan yesterday morning. Soon afterwards we had hard to torrential rain for a few hours but the day ended on a sunny afternoon note.

The forecast has eased up, the bad weather patch around 15th December has disappeared and instead for the next seven days we have partially cloudy to cloudy skies with the wind lightly increasing. This morning might see some rain around Koh Samui and the following days will see showers come and go but not in the same way like ti sued to be during the last seven days.

The breaks are on and the situation is improving daily. 

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 9th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 9^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

It's mostly cloudy over Koh Samui this morning with an occasional blue spot but other parts of the island may see some darker clouds. Occasionally there may be a little bit of rain but nothing like the recent torrential rain and floods around koh Samui. The water has receded all over the island, just leaving some local puddles here and there. It should stay mostly dry but as already mentioned, a short shower is possible but the sun may also peek through at times. Current temp at 7am is 28C

Yesterday I arrived on Koh Phangan where I'm about to satrt a PADI IDC today after having started a PADI IDC Staff Instructor course yesterday. 

The weather situation is very similar to Koh Samui, mostly cloudy with a few cloud cover breaks where the sun tries to peak through. It's not as sunny as yesterday but it's dry although some light rain may be expected during the day. Current temp at 7am is 28C
We just had a short shower shortly before 8am

Donations are more welcome in case you find the blog helpful, please sue this PayPal link.

Plai Laem yesterday morning, near the road that was closed off for a while the previous day. All raods are back to normal with just some small puddles here and there and there's still a lot of water run off coming down from the mountains. This run off water can cause some local puddles to remain on the road for a few more days

Yesterday saw a fabulour day, sunshine all day long at our North Eastern part of island at Plai Laem, although I could see dark clouds with rain at some other parts fo teh island. It was nice to feel the heat of the sun on my body again! Roads are free of floods again on both Koh Samui and Koh Phangan! Max temp reached 31C

In front of Big C yesterday. Some of the most dramatic pictures coming out of Koh Samui were taken here, with the flood water at times chest high and stranded and/or flooded cars. Within a few hours after the rain stopped, the water receded and the road is accessible again

Wat Plai Laem from a drone point of view yesterday bathing under the well deserved and needed sunshine, a break from the recent torrential rain onslaught

Haad Yao beach on Koh Phangan this morning, cloudy with a few isolated blue spots in the sky. The neach does look slightly battered from the massive amount of water that took away parts of the sand but nothing too dramatic.
The roads on Koh Phangan were absolutely fine yesterday when I arrived, a few small puddles here and there but no floods anymore

The forecast for the next seven days is looking good! Until next Wednesday it should be fairly cloudy with occasionally the sun even breaking through for short moments but so expect light showers to be thrown in at times. Come next Thursday the wind is supposed to pick up again and there may be some more and harder rain again but nit in the same magnitude as the recent torrential rain. Hopefully the drainage system will be able to deal with the rain by that time.

At the moment things are looking up again!

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 8th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 8^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

Everything is at constant change, and so it's now the Koh Samui's weather turn, it stopped raining yesterday afternoon and it's still dry this monring with some starts to be spotted in the sky very early on. Now we have a very thin cloud layer and maybe, just maybem, we can expect a few bleak sun rays today.

The good news is that the rain now should have stopped and all or most of the recent floods disappeared within a few hours after the rain stopped. There's still a lot of run off water coming down from the mountains and this will continue for at least a few days, this may cause very local mini floods.

Current temp at 7am is 25C

Later today I will be off to Koh Phangang to satrt a PADI IDC tomorrow.

After all the hundreds of comments, questions, thousands of page views, don't feel embarrassed to help me maintain this and make a donation, it's all done without financial interest. If you think the blog helped you over these last few days, as maby of my readers indicated it did, here's a link for donations.

Picture and all rights by Anne Sophie Maestracci

A nice change from the previous days, there was a sunset yesterday at Samrong Bay! A sign of things to come over the next seven days.

Although the forecast predicted that the rain would stop yesterday, we had four to five hours torrential rain during the morning yesterday and lighter rain for a few hours afterwards. This caused the drainage systems that is already full to the rafters with water, to not being able to handle the water and roads and hot sopts flooded once more.

Once the rain stopped around 2pm, the water receded fairly quickly. It looks we can move forward now and leave the floods behind us. Max temp reached 25C

Sunset view over partially flooded Koh Samui yesterday

The road to our house was blocked yesterday morning and early afternoon, coming from Bang Rak, there's a detour road available though.

After four to five hours of torrential rain and a few hours of light rain, the floods disappeared rather swiftly once it stopped raining but it was supposed to be one big traffic jam as soon as you got near the ring road so all shopping plans were postponed. We did have dinner at Juzza Pizza in Fisherman's Village yesterday and it was good as always although only two tables were occupied.

The picture above shows the road early in the morning and below is when it was closed down

The closed down road near our house

The forecast is looking again, still cloudy, possibly an occasional cunbeam but also be prepared for some light rain. Not the same torrential rain as we experienced during the last couple of days.

Hope all is getting better and back to normal again, everybody on Koh Samui is ready for it!

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 7th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 7^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

We had a dry night and early morning around Koh Samui but a few moments ago it started raining again, very hard and it continues right now. Today should see a change in weather though and the torrential rains should stop, according to the forecast and once that happens, the floods should recede fairly fast, within hopurs in most places and 'hot spots' may take a little bit longer. Today I'm planning on going shopping, so I will see how the current situation is and hpefully be able to post anupdate on my Facebook later today. Current temp at 7am is 25C

Tomorrow I will be off again for a PADI IDC on Koh Phangan, where the weather situation is very similar.

The road near the gas station opposite the Wharf at Fisherman's Village yesterday, during the late afternoon, a few hours before I arrived back on Koh Samui. There were many people guiding traffic and slowing cars down so their houses wouldn't be flooded by water sweeping up and over the barriers in front of their houses. Some drivers still drive way too fast, causing a lot of structural damage to walls and houses with the water movement caused by their car.

Yesterday it was sunny and dry on Phuket and Khao Lak and most fo the drive back to Donsak where I caught the ferry if was dry as well. Hard rain was only encountered once and for a very short time. The ferry was just about filled up and it was no porblem at all to get moved forward an hour since there was almost nobody at all waiting at the ferry. Who wants to visit Koh Samui right now, right? The ferry ride over was comfortable, no waves and once on Koh Samui, it was dry all the time and the road between Nathon and Plai Laem was just fine, only between Bandara and the Bophud traffic lights were there floods and the immediate area around the traffic lights. Max temp reached 28C

The the road at the gas station opposite the Wharf at Fisherman's Village was flooded, between Bandara resort and the traffic lights and the road between the traffic and the entrance of Fisherman's Village was also flooded, everything else between Nathon and our house in Plai Laem was flood free. The road surface was wett but no floods but at some places there ist still a lot of water coming down from the mountains, this will continue for several days after all rain will have stopped everywhere else

The forecast predicts the rain to ease up for the next seven days, no more torrential rain, at elast not for hours on an end. There will be showers though, onm a regular base and I wouldn't expect too much sunshine, but at least the floodings should recede fairly soon.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 6th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 6^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

It's dry at the moment again around Koh Samui, a welcoming situation after the torrential rain from the previous days and the floods it caused. Today should still see some rain but hopefully the worst is now behind us. Current temp at 8am is 26C

This morning I drove from Phuket to Khao Lak where I just arrived under a cloudy sky but with some blue patches in it and it's dry. Current temp at 8am is 26C

Later today I should be on the road again on my way back to Koh Samui.

Chaweng lake was flooding over and the buildings along the lake promenade were partly flooded. The lake did cause a few problems for people that live nearby

Yesterday saw still a lot of rain around Koh Samui but many raods cleared up and the water was able to flow away, however other parts still had water but the situation didn't improve nor got worse. Max temp reached 28C

Downtown Chaweng, there's always an upside!

At the bottom of the hill in Bang Po leading up to Nathon, some serious flooding occurred here and the road was closed off on the 3rd December. Now heavy repair works are in progress and the road should be open again

The Rua Tor 813, always worth a visit when visiting Khao Lak

The forecast still predicts a fair amount of rain today but things are about to turn around and the torrential rain should be over by now. Rain can still be expected in the coming days but not as much as came down during the previous few days and not all day long anymore. This means that the water in the flooded areas should start to recede and within a day or two I expect the situation to be back to normal again.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

King Bhumibol's first birthday remembrance

King Bhumibol's first birthday remembrance 

Today is Father's Day around Thailand, in coordination with the late King Bhumibol's birthday and today is the King Bhumibol's first birthday remembrance after he passed away.

It's a national holiday today, meaning that all banks, schools and local government buildings are closed.

King Bhumibol during his only visit to Koh Samui in 1962

Today is also the first official act of the new King Rama X to audit over the ceremonies for his Father and there will be ceremonies all over Thailand to commemorate the late King.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 5th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 5^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

The rain continues around Koh Samui and this morning there's a constant rain/drizzle. The roads start to flood slowly again and the end of the rain today isn't in sight, copious amounts of rain are still to come down today with hardly any breaks. The wind has slowed down though but there are various minor landslides around the island because the constant rain and floods. Current temp at 7am is 27C

At Kata on Phuket it's cloudy but dry with the sun try to break through the cloud cover but without much success at the moment. Maybe later today. Current temp at 7am is 25.3C

Yesterday the PADI IE for December on Phuket was completed very successfully by my three candidates and they all three passed with very good scores and are now PADI Open Water Scuba Instructors!

Today I'm out on the boat to the Raya islands and tomorrow via Khao Lak back to Koh Samui, where I hope to arrive late in the evening.

A funny and interesting phenomena, during floods many cars lose their license plates. There seem to be hot spots, like here near the Bophud traffic lights, were more than usual amounts of license plates are lost and the people that lve near those places or find them in general, hang them up for display, so you can claim your license plate again. I saw similar things happen with things that people lose whilst driving motorbikes, the lost item (a school unfirm hat, a shoe, you name it) is hung up for public display, so if you go looking for it, you can easily see it and get it back.

Bear The Wharf at Fisherman's Village this morning

Picture and all rights by Joe Clasby

One fo the 'hot pots' on the island near Zico's and the Centara Grand Beach Resort, where the road is very low and water has nowhere to escape to

Yesterday saw a dry morning after an almost completely dry night which gave the water an opportunity to flow away and normalize the situation again. The afternoon saw more rain agian though but not as torrential as the previous day. Some roads started to fill up again though but not as dramatic as the floods on 3rd December. Max temp reached 30C

Kata beach on Phuket, yesterday afternoon under a nice sunny sky, busy with plenty of people enjoying the flat oceans and the beach

The forecast predicts plenty of rain for today and tomorrow but the breaks seem to start by Wednesday. Still cloudy days but not as much rain as currently and recently and it will give the island time to recover from this onslaught. It was brutal but Koh Samui managed to cope and so far without power cuts, which is nice and rather unusual.

Hang in there for two more days and things should be getting back to 'normal'. 

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 4th December, 2016

Koh Samui, Thailand daily weather update; 4^th December, 2016

Today's weather;

It's surprisingly dry around Koh Samui this morning, in total contrast to the predictions. The wind is still blowing hard but all night and all morning so far it hasn't rained which allows the flooded roads to drain the water and make Koh Samui a little bit more accessible. Current temp at 9.45am is 27C

At Kata on Phuket it was dry all morning until around 9am when hard wind and rain all of a sudden appeared. Current temp at 9.45am is 25.4C

The current PADI IE for December 2016 on Phuket for the November-December IDC candidates is about to finish later this morning, probably just after noon. Updates will follow! Yesterday went like clockwork for them, they passed three parts of the exams with flying colors and very high scores; exams, classroom presnetation and confined water.

A stranded and most likely also a flooded car opposite Big C on the Chaweng part of the ring road. It was mayhem yesterday around Koh Samui as the picture above and yesterday's post about the floods showed and proofed. Today a lot of the water levels should have receded since all night and sofar today, it hasn't rained although lots of torrential rain has been predicted for today.

Yesterday saw a very rare situation around Koh Samui with all roads being flooded after an all nighter and all day period of torrential rain. The ring road had at least 60 cm of water pretty much everywhere and at some locations even more. The ring road between Maenam and Nathon was blocked off and closed and many other roads and parts of the island were flooded. That was a big 'hello, did you miss me' slap on the back from the monsoon. At Samui airport there were plenty of delays but eventually all planes could take off and land.Max temp reached 26C

Building at Phuket Rajabath University near Phuket town on Phuket, where I ran a 10km race this morning, or rather 9.45km in 41'45.4 minutes or a 4'25 pace which was enough to win in my age category, the first time that I ever have won a race in my age category. Due the rather unusual age category classifications, the guy who won last week in my age group, now ran in the 46-50 age group and I ran in the 56-up age group.

The forecast predicts lots of hard wind and torrential rain again for today and part of tomorrow, after which it should relax for a few days with Friday possibly hard rain again. This was intense but hopefully it remained like that just for the one day and we don't have any follow ups.

Do 'like' my Koh Samui blog Facebook page and don't forget to use my Camille's Samui hotel recommendation blog and my Camille's Thailand hotel recommendation blog for all your hotel bookings on Koh Samui and around Thailand. By doing so, you will support my blog. Thanks folks! 

Camille