no sign of El Niño yet

El Niño has not yet officially started.  

For the moment rainy season is still a go

Rainy season most often begins mid May or as late as June. 

Thursday or Friday of this week may be the beginning of more frequent rainy days.  

One forecaster seems to predict rain earlier in the week.

Unfortunately feels like temperatures remain high. Forty or above.

  สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

22 Years Battling Ants in Humid Climate Cinnamon is a top contender

Over the years, I’ve settled into a simple, low-toxicity approach to ant control.
Living in a humid climate forced a few refinements—and those made all the difference.

Dish Soap: Still the Fastest Knockdown

Diluted dish soap remains the most reliable way to deal with nests and heavy activity. It breaks down the ants’ outer layer and wipes out their scent trails on contact.

Best use:
Direct application where ants are concentrated.

---

Vinegar: Quiet, Long-Lasting Deterrent

A spray bottle of vinegar has become part of regular cleaning—and it does more than just clean.

What I’ve observed:

• After wiping surfaces with vinegar, ants tend to stay away for days.
• It likely works by disrupting the pheromone trails they depend on.

Best use:

• Countertops, entry points, and along known trails.
• Especially useful as a preventative step after cleaning.

---

Talc (Baby Powder): Works—But Needs Maintenance

Talc is effective when dry and loose, but humidity changes its behavior.

Limitation:

• It absorbs moisture (hydrophilic), hardens, and becomes ineffective.
• Once compacted, ants walk over it without hesitation.

Fix:

• Loosen it with a bristle broom to restore its fine texture.
• Reapply if needed, but often a quick break-up is enough.

---

Cinnamon Powder: The Upgrade

Cinnamon powder has proven to be a better long-term trail deterrent, particularly in humid conditions.

Why it stands out:

• It irritates ants and disrupts their behavior—likely affecting their sensory system.
• It’s non-toxic and kitchen-safe.
• It repels water (hydrophobic), so it stays effective even in damp air.

How I use it:

• Lightly sprinkle along ant trails, cracks, and entry points.
• Works well where talc would normally fail due to moisture.

---

Practical Comparison

• Dish soap: Immediate elimination at the source
• Vinegar: Residual trail disruption after cleaning
• Talc: Effective but humidity-sensitive (needs upkeep)
• Cinnamon: Humidity-resistant, low-toxicity, strong deterrent

---

Final Thoughts

Cinnamon, in particular, has earned its place as a reliable upgrade in my toolkit.

before cinnamon

Hydrate

Let’s start with a common misconception: beer is not an effective way to hydrate. 

While it does contain water, alcohol has a diuretic effect, meaning it increases fluid loss. In practical terms, drinking beer can leave you more dehydrated than you were before—especially in larger amounts.

So how do you know if you’re not drinking enough?

One of the earliest signs is lightheadedness, particularly when standing up quickly. This happens because dehydration reduces blood volume, which can lower blood pressure.

A more obvious indicator is dark urine. Ideally, urine should be pale in color—darker shades suggest your body needs more fluids.

Muscle cramps are another warning sign. They can be brief but very painful, especially in areas like the neck or legs. While cramps can have multiple causes, dehydration and low electrolyte levels are common contributors.

Other symptoms include irritability, dry mouth, headaches, and fatigue. These are easy to overlook but often improve quickly with proper hydration.

How much water do you actually need? Recommendations vary, but a general guideline is around 2 to 3 liters per day, depending on climate, activity level, and individual needs.

I have trouble downing 3 to 4 bottles of water per day so I brew a healthy tea instead. 

Star anise, cinnamon sticks, homegrown mint, homegrown hibiscus tea, ginger powder and honey.

This not only makes hydration more enjoyable but can also provide additional health benefits.

The key is consistency. Your body performs best when it is properly hydrated—and even mild dehydration can affect how you feel throughout the day.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Melioidosis wet weather disease

Melioidosis is predominantly a wet season problem in tropical regions, with cases spiking during periods of heavy rainfall, high humidity, and flooding. 

If you get your feet wet outdoors in wet puddles or mud 

WASH YOUR FEET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

In worst cases it has resulted in deaths, other cases resulted in expensive medical treatment

  

government warns of a melioidosis outbreak

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

wet weekend a likelihood 🌦️ ⚡️ 🌧️ 🌦️ ⚡️ 🌧️ drought conditions coming

Most forecasters agree: rain thunderstorms Friday through the weekend.  Light and heavy alternate

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Rain is on the way, just when and how much is debated

TMD is advising : Summer storms in upper Thailand (affecting the period from April 16-20, 2026)

Nothing to see on weather maps as of now. Local forecasts indicate we may see some rain and some extreme feels like temperatures next week.

	Th16	Fr17	Sa18	Su19	Mo20	Tu21	We22	Th23
Accuweather	☀️ 42	☀️ 43	☀️ 43	☀️ 40	⚡️ 41	🌧️ 41	☀️ 43	⚡️ 45
BBC	☀️ 44	☀️ 44	⚡️ 45	☀️ 45	⚡️ 45	🌦️ 45	🌦️ 46	🌦️ 45
Wunderground	☀️ 42	☀️ 43	☀️ 39	⚡️ 38	⚡️ 38	☀️ 40	☀️ 42	☀️ 41

☀️ Sunny, scattered clouds

🌦️ Light or scattered Rain

🌧️ Rain

⚡️ Scattered to heavy Thunder Storms

Extended forecasts indicate possible months of drought conditions through the year of 2026, for which El Nino is blamed.  Global warming is making the situation much worse

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Songkran Migration has begun - - - - - energy costs still climbing

Photo 2016

Seen a few posts of persons who have already started their vacations and have arrived in town. 

Have received other messages indicating they will be home for the holidays.

Some news articles seem to think tourism income will be down by 40% this new year. 

Most inbound traffic maybe from nearby countries spending less than distant tourist. In some instances air tickets have doubled in price. 

Then there are those hopeful reporters who claimed it will all be over by July.  Dream on!

PM Anutin warns of worsening energy crisis  Thai PBS World

 

You really have to wonder about this energy crisis, especially when as of 2024, Thailand has over 10,800 petroleum production wells, with the vast majority located offshore in the Gulf of Thailand ???
You really gavสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Temperatures climbing becoming a health hazard especially to vulnerable

Temperature at 05:55 this morning

The weather experience over the past week makes me believe BBC forecast is the most accurate. 

Air con units are in high demand at the moment.  Gaining in popularity are AI self cleaning units.  Meanwhile consider checking the dust filters on your unit.

Hot season is also high fire season. Northern Thailand seems to have the most active fires at the moment.   Active Fire Hotspot :: ฐานข้อมูลจุดความร้อน กรมป่าไม้

Past weekend had a number of parades and festivities.  A few I knew about ahead of time, while others, such as the Phra That Phu Phek festivities, came to light after picture and video posts of the events.

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

U23 Thailand vs Vietnam broadcast on Thairath TV Channel 32, begins at 14:00 today

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon