The department forecast fiercely hot weather in several areas of the country this summer, especially at the end of next month. The hottest areas would be in the North, Northeast and Central regions, despite isolated thundershowers.

The maximum temperature would be higher than the 30-year average in all regions while the amount of rain would be lower than normal.

"It's the effect of El Nino, which is causing abnormally high temperatures and lower rainfall," said Kathawuth Malairojsiri of the Meteorological Department.

He forecast that rain this summer would be insufficient for farming and consumption. The summer would end around the middle of May.

Tak's Muang district was the hottest area in the past couple of days with a temperature between 40 to 41 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in the province was 43.7 degrees last April.

"It's because the province's geography is an open-air area with sparse trees," Kathawuth

said. Heat in the area around Bhumiphol dam had been exacerbated by the dam's cement wall.

Other hotspots were Lampang and Kanchanaburi, which also recorded close to about 40C. "But it could be hotter in April," Kathawuth said.

Bangkok's maximum temperature yesterday was 37C.

According to weather records, Thailand had its most sweltering moments in 1960, when temperatures hit 44.5 degrees in Uttaradit.

Egat, meanwhile, said electricity consumption had already topped last year's peak four times this year.

Power use hit 21,375 megawatts (MW) on March 14, followed by 21,366 MW on March 16, 21,318 MW on March 13 and 21,273 MW on March 15.

The highest usage last year was 21,366 MW on May 4.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation