Ang Thong Marine National Park announced a one-day temporary closure of tourism activities after the Meteorological Department issued warnings of strong winds and waves in the Gulf of Thailand from 7-9 January. Meanwhile, operators raised red flags along Chaweng Beach to warn tourists not to enter the water.
On 8 January 2025, reporters reported that due to unstable weather conditions, the skies over Koh Samui district and Koh Phangan were cloudy with increasing wind and wave strength at sea. At the tour boat pier in Ban Na Thon, Ang Thong subdistrict, Koh Samui district, Surat Thani province, many tour boats to the islands were anchored and moored at the pier, with services suspended.
At the same time, Ang Thong Marine National Park announced a temporary closure of the park's tourism activities on 8 January 2026 to prevent navigation hazards. The announcement cited the Eastern Southern Meteorological Center’s bulletin No. 4 (4/2569) warning of strong winds and waves in the Gulf of Thailand affecting 7-9 January 2026. This is due to a high-pressure system or a fairly strong cold air mass from China covering northern Thailand, combined with a fairly strong northeast monsoon over the Gulf of Thailand, the south, and the Andaman Sea.
These conditions will cause strong winds and waves in the Gulf of Thailand from 7-9 January 2026, with sea waves reaching 2-3 meters high and exceeding 3 meters in areas with thunderstorms. Residents along the coast are advised to be cautious of waves hitting the shore. Mariners should exercise increased caution when navigating, avoid sailing in thunderstorm areas, and small boats are advised not to depart from shore during 7-9 January.
Similarly, at Chaweng Beach in Bo Phut subdistrict, high tide combined with strong incoming waves has led beach operators to raise red flags along the shoreline. This symbol warns tourists not to enter the sea in the flagged areas along the beach to prevent accidents and ensure tourist safety.
