El Niño weakening, neutral conditions may be short lived, La Niña arrival expected June or July

If you want to know when the rainy season really starts, then check when the monks start their rain retreat.

Starts with the Wan Khao Phansa celebrations, this year it's July 21.

Ends with the Awk Phansa celebration on the October full moon.

Day before  Awk Phansa is the Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle parade.

During this period the majority of the weather arrived from the Pacific ocean

May 2024 ENSO update: we’re 10! | NOAA Climate.govสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Scattered Thunderstorms. Been hearing that for days, last sprinkle was Tuesday

Pictured is a loop provided by TMD at 7 am 

click image for updated loop

Rain chance

BBC 🕛 45% 🕐 48%

wunderground 🕚 through 🕛 88%

weather com 🕚 through 🕛 88%

YR 🕑 1.8mm

MSN Today mostly sunny skies
  สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Hot weather continues

Noteworthy is the continued difference between 'REAL' and 'FEELS LIKE' temperatures. At times there is a ten degree celsius difference, mostly caused by humidity

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Hotter period seems to be lasting longer

Looking at thermometer photos I have, we've had these hot temperatures before. 

What seems to have changed is the hotter period is lasting longer.

Expect to see these high temperatures till the end of  April.             May will bring 'slight' relief. 

Second season (spring) rice crop may not happen due to anticipated extended drought.

Later on we will begin the transition from El Niño to La Niña.สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

It's hot and getting hotter

Celcius

Depending on your location, you may need to add a degree or two. สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Consider today the coolest 🥵. 🥵. 🥵🥵. 🥵. then starts "HOT APRIL"

blue - green - red are 'FEELS LIKE' temperatures 

brown - orange are 'REAL' temperatures 

 Any way you look at it, hot season has arrived

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

The air we breathe

Smog and dust has been on the increase since mid February,

I'd suspect this will continue until there is some heavy rain.

Humidity is on the increase, which seems to make the smog more noticeable.

*** May require more frequent air conditioner maintenance

    

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

A Hot Time In The Old Town . . . 🌡️🌡️ 🌡️ 🌡️

Forecasters differ on anticipated temperatures, but they do agree it's about to get warmer 

[1930] Screen Songs Cartoon

"The Meteorological Department predicts that temperatures will reach 44-50 degrees Celsius from the end of February"

According to a local appliance dealer  Sakon Nakhon is scorching hot.  . . . . air conditioner sales increased by almost 50%.

The article appeared on line at www.matichon.  Anticipation is that things are going to get hotter than usual. Electricity bills will climb most likely to new highs in April.

I've tried misting fans, swamp coolers and wet towels over fans with limited effect.

If you need to cool down quick, take a shower, get wet and stand in front of a fan.

I've had best results keeping the electric bills low by keeping the air con at 29 and using fans

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Feels like the start of Hot Season

Hot temperatures are in the forecast

Air quality may not be that great either. Last two days it smelled like an electrical fire was about to start. Smoldering rubber. Thought my screens were dying. Syepped outside in the morning and realized burning smell is in the air. In creased temperatures may bring on local thunderstorms สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Summer starts in late February according to TMD . . .

. . . and is expected to be two degrees C hotter than last year.

The present cold spell in Sakon Nakhon will end. 

By the first of February we should see feels like temperatures in the lower 40's C.

Not to worry, another cold spell is expected in February.

Keeping cool and the related cost is high priority on my agenda.

  

My Dec-Jan electric bill was slightly above 900 baht (US$25). I cook with electricity and run a pool pump, other than lights, fridge and wash mashine. 

While some past April electric bills went as high as 5,000 baht (US$142)is an indication that keeping cool is a major expense.

I have reduced my electric bill somewhat by keeping the aircon at 28 and 29 C and running fans  
. . .สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

How Chilly will it get, forecasts vary

Forecasters seem to be in agreement, moderate temperatures for the week ahead.

But then next week rolls around and the predictions vary. Overnight low temperaturees could dip to an acceptable 16 or dip to a chilly 14, or 13, or 12, or 11. 

Five forecasters are in disagreement.

From experience weekly forecasts are generally fairly accurate, anything beyond a week is more of a science guessing game

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Mildest cool season in my recollection

You don't need to look at a crystal ball to conclude that the 2023-2024 cold season is probably the mildest cold season in a couple decades. 

There will probably be a few cooler days, but night time temperatures are expected to not dip below 14 or 15.

El Niño is expected to continue to affect Thailand with drought conditions, impacting all crops.  The start of the rainy season could be delayed.

Global warming is being accused to make 2024 the hottest year on record.

Will be interesting to note how low the waterlevel may get on the local lake

Loสกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Warming trend to continue next ten days

week ahead

Overnight lows 17- 18 C

Daytime feels like highs above 35 +

Expect slight cooling trend 9th January 

The effects of El Niño". . .strength . . . in the top 5 of El Niño events since 1950 . . ." https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/ 

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

By the end of the week (Sunday) we should notice a cooling trend

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Warming trend may last another 🔟 days

🟠 Orange indicates overnight low

Rainy season slow start: plenty more to come

Keep in mind rain retreat starts in August สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Hot season is still on, contrary to official announcement of rainy season

Weather direction seems to be shifting from a previous south-west to arriving from northeast. There doesn't seem to be much out there coming this way, just yet.

Rains retreat is somewhat late this year, starts August 2. There's an obvious reason for this type of retreat.

At the moment i am at somewhat of a heat retreat staying out of the sun, air conditioned. 
สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

Temporary slight cooling during the upcomin rainy season

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon

A few days of scattered rain, hot season continues

Feels like temperatures are hottests around 4 pm when humidity increases for the evening. 

Actual temperatures peak around noon to 1 pm

สกลนคร Sakon Nakhon