Thailand has spun up a 24-hour operation to track weather and flood risks for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group meetings in Bangkok. Surapong Sarapa, forecasting chief at the Meteorological Department, said meteorologists will be on duty around the clock and issue forecasts for each district. Officials will remain stationed at the venues throughout the meetings, with backup protocols set to activate should conditions worsen. The government is also keeping continuous tabs on traffic and flooding.
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Forecasters expect storms, strong gusts, and brief heavy downpours on Oct. 10-11. Sarapa said rainfall should taper off starting Oct. 12, which is when the meetings begin. The timing matters: Bangkok saw severe flooding just weeks ago that swamped roads, disrupted flights, and led to temporary factory closures. Even so, officials reported that the four primary meeting zones stayed clear of standing water during that recent deluge.
Large global events pull in people, flights, and services, so weather hiccups can quickly spill into travel and local commerce. With a 24/7 monitoring team, hyperlocal forecasts, and fallback plans already in place, Thailand is trying to keep the agenda - and city logistics - moving as the storm window passes and conditions improve from Oct. 12.
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