Water from the north has arrived. The Royal Irrigation Department is preparing for a new wave of rain by continuously increasing water releases at the Chao Phraya Dam. Rainfall this year is expected to remain normal, with monitoring in place for 1-2 storms.
On 6 Aug 2026, reporters reported that rainfall in northern areas caused increased water levels in rivers flowing through central Thailand, which receive rain and runoff, leading to rising water volumes.
Currently, water levels in the Chao Phraya basin at water station C.2 in Mueang District, Nakhon Sawan province—the source of the Chao Phraya River—show inflow at 905 cubic meters per second. At the Chao Phraya Dam in Sapphaya District, Chainat province, the upstream water level is 16.16 meters above mean sea level, downstream level is 7.63 meters, and the dam releases water at 350 cubic meters per second.
To manage water appropriately according to rainfall and runoff conditions, the Royal Irrigation Department announced it will increase downstream water release at the Chao Phraya Dam starting at 14:00 today, gradually raising the rate from 350 to 450 cubic meters per second by midnight (about 10 cubic meters per second per hour), maintaining this rate continuously to accommodate northern inflows and optimize water management.
Tharapong Prabsut, Head of Water Management Division at the Royal Irrigation Office 12, stated that rainfall since early August has increased water volumes in the Chao Phraya basin, though the area remains under El Niño conditions. Since mid-July, water volumes had decreased due to dry spells, but from 1 Aug 2026, rainfall resumed in the basin, increasing river flows.
This year, Thailand faces El Niño, resulting in lower than normal water volumes. The Royal Irrigation Department carefully manages water for agriculture, consumption, industry, and ecosystem preservation. The department forecasts rainfall from August to October to be normal. In August, rainfall is expected to be below average, increasing in September, then decreasing again in October, but overall remaining within normal ranges.
Flood risk in the Chao Phraya basin depends on local rainfall. About 1-2 tropical storms are expected to enter Thailand, with their paths to be monitored in September and October. The Royal Irrigation Department is prepared to handle these conditions following the nine key measures of the National Water Resources Office. Citizens are urged to closely monitor water levels and official updates during this August and the approaching flood season.