Hat Yai Lowers Flood Warning, Urges Caution Amid Spotty Showers

A light drizzle may no longer set off alarm bells in Hat Yai, but city officials are not letting their guard down after the recent floods that turned streets into canals. Drainage ditches have been cleared and local retention ponds remain below capacity, while upstream reservoirs are nearing their limits. The yellow warning flag that went up earlier in the week has now been swapped for green. Even so, the Meteorological Department still expects intermittent showers across the lower South, and holiday travellers heading to Songkhla province are being urged to keep an umbrella—and a dose of caution—close at hand.

Quick Take

• Alert downgraded from yellow to green after water levels receded.

• Most canals are 4–5 m below their banks, offering spare capacity.

• Authorities removed 118,000 t of flood debris over the past week.

• Spotty showers likely through the end of the month, especially around 25-27 Dec.

• The Disaster Prevention hotline (1784) and Gun Chon call-centre (074-200000) remain open 24/7.

From Alarm to Relief

When rain pounded Hat Yai in mid-December, low-lying neighbourhoods such as Chan Wirot and Rattanawiboon found themselves under nearly a metre of water in just hours. The city responded with a yellow-flag warning, advising residents to raise belongings and prepare for a potential evacuation. Thursday evening, hydrology data showed the U-Taphao River falling rapidly, and by nightfall municipal officials declared a green-flag all-clear. The shift did not mean blue skies—radar still shows patchy rain bands sliding in from Na Mom district—but it signalled that drainage could cope with anything short of a tropical storm.

Canals, Reservoirs and Run-off

Civil engineers describe Hat Yai's flood defence as a three-tiered system: natural rivers, urban canals, and upstream reservoirs. Current readings put Khlong U-Taphao 4.99 m, Khlong Hua 2.63 m, and Khlong Toei 3.15 m below their embankments—all safely within design limits. Up in the hills, Khlong Sadao reservoir holds 53.82 M m³, or about 95 % of its capacity, while two medium-sized dams elsewhere in Songkhla are at 97 % and 93 %. Controlled releases continue day and night to ensure enough headroom should a new deluge arrive.

What Residents Should Still Watch For

Meteorologists see a weak northeastern monsoon drawing moisture off the Gulf of Thailand, creating 'on-off' rain patterns that can dump 20-40 mm in under an hour. The risk period is 25-27 December, when a stronger low-pressure cell may skirt the peninsula. Officials recommend:

Elevating electronics and paperwork in single-storey homes.

Cutting the mains if water creeps toward plug height.

Checking Thai Disaster Alert for push notifications every six hours.

Keeping an eye on storm drains outside the house; blocked grates cause street-level flooding faster than rising rivers.

Clean-Up and Economic Recovery

Flood-response teams—6,603 personnel and 689 heavy machines—have already cleared 394 km of roads, yet pockets of debris remain in narrow alleys such as Soi 13 off Chok Saman 5 Road. Commerce Ministry inspectors estimate that roughly ฿1.2 B in merchandise was ruined during the November floods, much of it belonging to small traders at Kim Yong market. To revive foot traffic, the municipality is launching Saturday cleaning drives at four downtown hotspots and waiving stall fees for all vendors through January.

Outlook for the Rest of December

Ten-day charts suggest daytime highs of 30-31 °C with nightly lows near 23 °C—pleasant by Hat Yai standards. Expect light rain most afternoons, cloudier skies after sunset, and the possibility of a moderate squall on 26 December. Airlines report normal operations at Hat Yai International Airport, but commuters using Highway 4 toward Trang should be prepared for slick roads and the odd fallen branch.

Where to Get Help

Residents can dial 1784 for any emergency linked to floods, landslides, or strong winds. Hat Yai’s Gun Chon radio room stays open round-the-clock at 074-200000. For real-time water-level maps, follow the Songkhla DPMO Facebook page or download the free Thai Water app. While the green flag is flying today, weather in the deep South can change in minutes—so staying informed is still the smartest defence.