The Thai Meteorological Department announced that Monday April 27th would be the hottest day of the year, as it was the apex of the sun’s seasonal arc across Thailand. As we inched towards that day the weather became hotter and hotter, leaving few doubts that their prediction would hold true.
But then in the midst of the high temperatures a few days before, the forecast began to crack: a high pressure system was descending from China and instead of the hottest day, the 27th would instead be a preview of the coming rainy season, which the department announced would officially begin May 15th.
Sure enough, by lunchtime Monday the thunder and lightning was upon us and rain fell for nearly two hours in a steady downpour. By the time I tried to return home I found our soi flooded. This often happens when it rains as the city lies low and its water system struggles to handle a deluge, but it usually clears out quickly.
The water reached levels I have not seen in our two years here on the soi. I couldn’t find a motorbike that would attempt to traverse the waters so I walked home, eventually up to my shins on the flooded sidewalks.
Here’s a video compilation of the storm set to a wonderful song, “Come In Out of the Rain” performed by Chicago jazz vocalist Audrey Morris.
christao408 
Nicely compiled video. I remember thunder storms can become quite vicious in BKK!!
Great video. I’m unfamiliar with Audrey Morris. Beautiful voice…reminds me some of Sarah Vaughn, but I’m dating myself.
Beautiful song and nice video.
Really lovely video and the song. You know Chris, a few years back I was in Dubai visiting my brother, and we were supposed to go to a restaurant one evening; it started raining, i mean like the one you had here, and there was flooding all over. Dubai municipality is not too concerned about the sewer system and water darainage, since it hardly rains there. So there were these tiny and narrow slits in the concrete along the curbs, that were trying to drain the hundred of gallong of rain water. Your video reminded me of that evening in Dubai.
wow that’s a lot of water.It’s been awhile since I’ve seen flooding in person!
Great video. What a fabulous rain storm! FYI we are having rain in the Bay area as well. certainly not as big a storm by any stretch, but a good one just the same.
Great Video love it. Judi
Wow, I love rain but I can’t imagine getting that much. How long does the rainy season usually last there?
@TheCheshireGrins – Roughly May through October with September being the peak. In fact, September usually has significantly higher rain than any other month because that’s when the monsoon shifts back from southwest to northeast.
It’s strange seeing the Erawan Shrine so empty…..
Thank you for taking me back to Bangkok – I recognise some of the landmarks – makes me wish I was there – rain and all! ~ V
That is a lot of rain in 2 hours, more than we get for the whole year in SoCal. Chris, you are a very, very good xanga video maker, besides being a top cook show, and tour guide, hehe. The editing and the song makes the video feel like an artsy movie. Very enjoyable. 🙂 Thanks! I gave you a “Cool Dude” credit to counteract the Thai weather forecast, lol.
@curry69curry – @Dezinerdreams – @jassmine – @stevew918 – Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video.
@venice – That was EXACTLY what I thought when I saw it: “This is what it takes to empty out the shrine… almost.”
@stebow – Every so often we’ll have a misty day where it just drizzles. When I have the windows closed and the air con on, I’ll look out and think, “Oh, it looks just like the Bay Area.”
@yang1815 – Well, let’s hope it is a long while before you have to see flooding in person again.
@ZSA_MD – Yeah, I would imagine that in Dubai they don’t plan for too much rain. I’ve noticed that Phoenix is like that, too. If they get any serious amount of rain, they just have to deal with the flooding.
@jandsschultz – Actually, I believe Sarah Vaughn was one of her inspirations, so the similarity isn’t a coincidence.
@christao408 – Thanks. Me too!
The video was very well done, smooth transitions and a great soundtrack. Noticed you were still wearing the shoes as you walked toward the dep water. Hope they are not a lost cause.
That was well done! I wonder how many shoes people go through in a rainy season?
Another case when people can go wrong, and the weather really being fickle-minded.
@murisopsis – Thanks for your concern. The shoes bounced right back, though. Just put rolled up newspaper in them and placed them in front of a fan for two days. Need to add some leather lotion and re-polish to finish the job.
@ElusiveWords – A lot of Thais will walk barefoot and carry their shoes. I don’t want to take that risk.
@Norcani – That is the truth!
ryc – I don’t think I would ever walk barefoot. You never know what’s you’re gonna step on. Maybe the best thing to do is carry a pair of sandals with you and swap them with the leather shoes. But I’m glad that your shoes recovered though.
@ElusiveWords – Funny you should suggest that. Just this morning I was thinking that maybe I should go buy a $3 pair of flip flops and carry them in my bag for just such an emergency.
hahaha reminds me of walking at the flooded piazza san marco in Venice in 1996 with my shoes on, after taking the ferry back to the Lido and a long walk back to the Hotel, I had to say bye to my shoes…..
That first pic of those guys leisurely standing beside a street that looks more like a river is hilarious. 😛
@agmhkg – Yeah, but not quite so beautiful as Venice, eh?
@brooklyn2028 – There is a very strange “What? Me worry?” attitude here. I guess when you’ve seen your city flood like this so often, you just don’t get too worked up about it.