Weather tracking: Monsoon brings severe flooding to southern Thailand | Thailand

Southern Thailand is grappling with severe flooding as heavy rainfall, driven by the northeast monsoon, continues to affect the region. During the northeast monsoon, which runs from November to March, winds from the northeast pick up moisture from the Gulf of Thailand and deposit it as heavy rain across the islands of the gulf and into exposed eastern parts of Thailand’s southern peninsula.

While high rainfall in southern Thailand is not unusual at this time of year, this year’s has been significantly above average. Ko Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, has recorded 571mm (22.48in) of rain this month – about 375% of the December average – with almost a third of the month to go. In nearby Nakhon Si Thammarat province on the mainland, another weather station has exceeded 1009 mm, more than four times the December norm.

In addition to November’s above-average rainfall, December’s deluge has resulted in severe flooding in five provinces, displacing thousands of people as buildings have collapsed.

Spain’s Canary Islands have experienced a series of extreme weather events in recent days, with December temperatures rising to the highest levels recorded for 100 years, with many places experiencing temperatures above 30C (86F). These high temperatures have been intensified by a weather phenomenon called -en calima (or “blood rain” when mixed with precipitation).

Calima occurs when Saharan dust is swept into the region by strong winds, giving the sky a striking reddish hue. These dust particles, suspended in the air, have trapped heat, exacerbating the already high temperatures and reducing visibility to as low as 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). Local authorities have advised locals and visitors to stay indoors as the dust cloud lingers, as it could trigger respiratory problems and eye irritation.

Elsewhere, Cyclone Chido has continued its destructive path, making landfall in Malawi on December 15 as a moderate tropical storm with wind speeds of 124 mph (200 km/h) and heavy rainfall. As of December 18, the storm has killed seven more people and injured another 16. The cyclone has damaged more than 250 houses in the region, swept roofs off buildings and blocked roads.