Phuket's Weather April 2012




 17/04/2012 09:19:57
Heavy rain shower near Phuket Town to Nabon

 17/04/2012 09:25:34
Just a few minutes later in Chalong it was sunny! That's Phuket!

17/04/2012 10:17:19
Threatening clouds somewhere over Phi Phi Islands

17/04/2012 16:13:35
At the end of the day the weather was just fabulous!

16/04/2012 09:41:33

 15/04/2012 09:09:39
A hot sunny day, rain in mountainous areas of Phuket that seemed to miss the Rawai area and off-shore islands. Late afternoon the wind changed to SW and the rain reached Rawai at the same time as we did!

15/04/2012 16:31:33
Time to go!

14/04/2012 16:23:33
Koh Hey (Coral Island)

13/04/2012 15:10:48
A hot afternoon cooled down by the annual water fight. (Songkran Festival 2012)

12/04/2012 15:24:00

11/04/2012 12:29:40
A beautiful moment that was to be followed just three hours later by the news of an M8.7 Earthquake 
off Northern Sumatra and a tsunami warning for the entire Indian Ocean. 
Luckily the warning was cancelled about 4 hours after the quake. 
Life goes on!

10/04/2012 10:08:52
Windy mornings this week.

 09/04/2012 09:54:24

08/04/2012 17:14:30
Koh Raya hiding behind Bon Island!

07/04/2012 09:47:10

06/04/2012 17:37:48

05/04/2012 10:01:17
Business as usual!

04/04/2012 08:35:50
Something went wrong with the weather today.
Down in the south in Rawai it was already pouring with rain and seemed that it wasn't going to stop!
Things got better in the afternoon and, typical of Phuket, it got hot and sunny again.
(I closed the restaurant and we all had a 'holiday'!)

03/04/2012 09:34:10
Hot, hot, hot!

02/04/2012 08:44:14
Phuket sure is hot just now! Why not buy some ice cream?
That man is working hard pushing that ice cream cart, hot work, go on buy some!!!

01/04/2012 10:02:51



The hottest day of the year?

April 25th 2012 is this year's date for the 'hottest day of the year' or more technically the say when the sun is directly over Thailand. Just walk outside at noon and take a look at your shadow, well that's if you can find it!

The temperatures were expected to be hottest in the North of Thailand with an expected 38 degrees Celsius for Phuket. Somehow it doesn't feel that hot, maybe because of some rain at sunrise and an overcast afternoon.

Time to take an afternoon siesta! 

Phuket's own earthquake.

The Thai Meteorology Department recorded a M4.3 earthquake in Talang district of Phuket today.

เกิดแผ่นดินไหว วันที่ 16 เมษายน 2555 เวลา 16.44 น. ศูนย์กลาง ต.ศรีสุนทร อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต (8.02,98.37) ขนาด 4.3 ซึ่งหลังจากนั้นเวลา 16.46 เกิดแผ่นดินไหวที่ตอนเหนือของเกาะสุมาตรา ขนาด 5.4 ตามมา ก่อให้เกิดความสับสนในข้อมูล ซึ่งเหตุการณ์ ที่อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต ประชาชนได้รับรู้แรงสั่นไหวได้ในหลายพื้นที่

It almost coincided with a M5.5 quake in Sumatra. An earthquake was felt by many of the locals and caused many people to run up in to high land for safety. Searching the USGS earthquake site and also the PTWC tsunami warning site there was no sign of any reason to panic, but the only times we have felt the tremors here in Phuket has been due to a major quake, like the one that caused the 2004 tsunami event and also the one we had just a few days ago on April 11th 2012. So today there was a small amount of panic for a while!

UPDATE: Aftershock of M2.7 at 20.30hr and M2.6 at 21.17hr felt in Talang District of Phuket followed by another 7 aftershocks within 24 hours.

เกิด After shock ของแผ่นดินไหวที่ อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต จำนวน 2 ครั้ง ดังนี้ เวลา 20.30 น. ขนาด 2.7 และ เวลา 21.17 น. ขนาด 2.6 รู้สึกสั่นไหวที่ อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต

Original earthquake position according to TMD

UPDATE 17/4/2012 The USGS has centred this earthquake at 8.093°N, 98.573°E  Koh Yao +/- 24km - visit the event page for map and further information.
(In answer to USGS the Thai Seismology Bureau maintain that the epicentre was in Talang)

สำนักเฝ้าระวังแผ่นดินไหว  2012-04-17 17:05 
เรียน ทุกท่าน 
สำนักเฝ้าระวังแผ่นดินไหวรายงานไปตั้งแต่เมื่อวานแล้วครับ เหตุการณ์ที่ 2012-04-16 16:44:25 THAI 2012-04-16 09:44:25 UTC ขนาด 4.3 ริกเตอร์ (8.02,98.37) ต.ศรีสุนทร อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต ส่วนที่ท่านดูมาเป็นของ USGS เขาวัดได้ 3.9 และมีศูนย์กลางที่เกาะยาว และอัพเดทข้อมูลหลังสำนักเฝ้าระวังแผ่นดินไหวเป็นวัน ซึ่งจากข้อมูลของแรงสั่นไหวที่ ต.ศรีสุนทร อ.ถลาง จ.ภูเก็ต สอดคล้องกับตำแหน่งศนย์กลางแผ่นดินไหวของสำนักเฝ้าระวังแผ่นดินไหวมากว่าของ USGS
จึงเรียนมาเพื่อให้ทำความเข้าใจ

Some detailed scientific information regarding the Sumatra earthquake that preceded the Phuket earthquake can be seen at the following websites:
http://www.seismology.harvard.edu/research_sumatra2012.html
http://www.earthobservatory.sg/media/news-and-features/Sumatra_Earthquake_11Apr2012.html
_____________________________________________________________________________

Hotline: 192

02-366-9410
02-398-5325
02-399-0969
02-399-4547
 Email  tmdseismo@gmail.com
Follow Seismological Bureau on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/seismo_twitt 
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WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT OF AN EARTHQUAKE

During an Earthquake
Thanks to: http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes for this information 
and I would recommend a visit to their website to find out even more!

Drop, cover and Hold On. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If Indoors
DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.

Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.

Do not use a doorway except if you know it is a strongly supported, load-bearing doorway and it is close to you. Many inside doorways are lightly constructed and do not offer protection..

Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Do not exit a building during the shaking. 

Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

DO NOT use the elevators.

Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

If OutdoorsStay there.
Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.
The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. 

Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a Moving Vehicle
Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If Trapped Under Debris
Do not light a match.

Do not move about or kick up dust.

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

คู่มิอแผ่นดินไหว Thai Language Printable Information leaflet / VDO :
http://www.seismology.tmd.go.th/lesson.php
http://www.seismology.tmd.go.th/eqp.php

Tsunami Warning April 11 2012

After a M8.7 earthquake off the cost of Northern Sumatra and issue of a Tsunami Warning for the whole of the Indian Ocean, the warning has finally been lifted with the follwing additional message.
Thanks to Pacific Tsunami Warning Center 
http://ptwc.weather.gov/ptwc/text.php?id=indian.TSUIOX.2012.04.11.1318

EVALUATION
A SIGNIFICANT TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED BY THIS EARTHQUAKE. HOWEVER...SEA LEVEL READINGS NOW INDICATE THAT THE THREAT HAS DIMINISHED OR IS OVER FOR MOST AREAS. THEREFORE THE TSUNAMI WATCH ISSUED BY THIS CENTER IS NOW CANCELLED.

FOR ANY AFFECTED AREAS - WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES HAVE OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED ARRIVAL TIME OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.


THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THIS EVENT. IN THE CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION...THE MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.


For a regional map showing latest earthquakes in real time follow this link to USGS website.


Some detailed scientific information regarding the Sumatra earthquake can be seen at the following websites:


http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usc000905e#summary

http://www.seismology.harvard.edu/research_sumatra2012.html

http://www.earthobservatory.sg/media/news-and-features/Sumatra_Earthquake_11Apr2012.html


Phuket's High Season is here!

Blue Phuket skies, crystal Andaman waters, soft north-easterly breeze............
it's what we have all been waiting for!
A perfect day on the beach!
Take off your shoes, feel the sand between your toes...............
you suddenly realise that you are in paradise!