Monsoon to weaken by end of the week: forecaster
14 June 18 - The monsoon that resulted in floods in some areas of the country is forecast to weaken by the weekend, said U Kyaw Lwin Oo, director of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology on Wednesday.
The department forecast over five inches of rain within 24 hours in Rakhine, Chin, Magwe, Mandalay and Bago regions, with the amount will easing to three inches by Friday.
"Heavy rain is expected till Thursday and the monsoon will gradually weaken later this week," said U Kyaw Lwin Oo.
A depression in the Bay of Bengal that made landfall in Bangladesh early this week strengthened the monsoon which generated heavy rain in the country, especially in coastal areas and central Myanmar.
Flooding has been reported in Magwe, Ayeyarwady and Bago.
The department issued a flood warning for Chidwin River in Sagaing Region and the Kaladan River in Rakhine.
The advisory said the water level of the Chindwin in Homalin township was about five feet below danger level, and may reach the danger level within the next two days.
Rakhine was hit by a week of heavy rain. Some towns got almost 9 inches in a day while others had 3 inches to 5 inches.
The water level of the Kaladan in Kyauktaw township is two feet below the danger level and could reach the danger point in the next two days
The department advised people living near the river and low-lying areas in Homalin and Kyauktaw townships to take the necessary precautions.
Last month, four people were killed and hundreds of houses damaged after a storm hit the country.
Source: Myanmar Times
