A fishing boat at the Chaktomuk river crossing in Phnom Penh. The water levels at the Chaktomuk river crossing, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port and the Prek Kdam area in Kandal province’s Ponhea Leu district are all within their average, said the Mekong River Commission. Hean Rangsey
Rainfall will be uneven in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam between May and July, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which also urged people to be cautious of flash floods and spontaneous downpours.
An MRC press release on Thursday predicted May to be a dry month across the region.
In June, Cambodia and Thailand are expected to receive more rainfall than Laos and Vietnam.
In July, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand will likely receive heavy rainfall with Vietnam receiving less.
The MRC said early rainfall across the Mekong region in April contributed to putting back the Mekong River levels to their normal state.
“The region has seen quite a good amount of rainfall since the third week of April even though its total accumulated amount is only at an average level,” Lam Hung Son, head of the MRC Secretariat’s Regional Flood and Drought Management Center, said in the press release.
Water levels in Stung Treng, Kratie and Kampong Cham provinces are all above their average levels. The water levels at the Chaktomuk river crossing, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port and the Prek Kdam area in Kandal province’s Ponhea Leu district are all within their average, the release said.
The Mekong region’s climate, the MRC said, is being affected by a transition between the El Nino and La Nina phases of the El Nino – Southern Oscillation (Enso), during which changes in sea temperatures and air pressure influence weather patterns and precipitation.
The transition explains the early-season, uneven bouts of rain Cambodia experienced in April.
“We are expecting a wetter condition and more rain over the next three months. People should also be careful as downpours and flash floods could come any time, resulting in possible damage to properties, crops and even lives,” Hung Son said.
Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology spokesman Chan Yutha could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
On Thursday evening, Moung Russey, Sangke and Banan districts, as well as Battambang town in Battambang province, experienced low to moderate rainfall mixed with wind, the ministry said.
Svay Rieng province’s Svay Chrum district and Kep district in Kep province experienced weak rainfall on Thursday.
On Thursday morning drizzling rain fell in Khemarak Phoumin and Thma Bang districts in Koh Kong province.
