Bangkok Just Got A Five-Day Storm Alert Starting Thursday. 61 Provinces. Hail. Flash Floods. Here Is What To Do.

🌡️ Weather: 26-33°C (79-91°F). Thundershowers across 60% of Bangkok today with isolated gusty winds. Rain intensifies Thursday through the weekend.

🌫️ Air Quality: 61-77 (Moderate). Cleaner after 2PM. Outdoor plans are fine this afternoon but watch the sky later in the week.

🗞️ TOP STORY

BANGKOK AND 61 PROVINCES ARE ON STORM AND FLASH FLOOD ALERT FROM NOVEMBER 5 TO 9. HERE IS WHAT THAT ACTUALLY MEANS.

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has placed 61 provinces and Bangkok on alert for severe weather starting Thursday. A high-pressure system from China is pushing unstable conditions south across the country in two waves. Wave one hits November 5 to 7: thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail and isolated heavy rain across upper Thailand, starting in the Northeast and spreading to the North, Central region, Bangkok and the East. Wave two hits November 7 to 9: heavy to very heavy rain across all 14 southern provinces, with flash flood and landslide risks in foothill and low-lying areas. The DDPM has deployed long-distance water-pumping vehicles, flood-response vehicles, flat-bottomed boats and rapid-response teams to vulnerable areas. They have also advised households to prepare emergency supply kits covering six categories: medicines, food and water (three liters per person per day), communication tools, important documents and cash, hygiene supplies and clothing.

For Bangkok specifically, the TMD is forecasting thundershowers across 60% of the metro area with gusty winds during the worst of it. This comes on top of the tidal flood alert that has been running since late October, with high tides pushing river levels up along the Chao Phraya between 6AM and 3PM. The combination of heavy rain from above and high tides from below is what creates real flooding risk for riverside communities, low-lying neighborhoods and roads near canals. If you live in an area that flooded during the September rains, this is the same scenario. Practically: charge your devices, keep a power bank ready, download the Thai Meteorological Department app for push alerts, and avoid driving through standing water. Thursday and Friday are the days to watch in Bangkok. The southern provinces face the bigger risk from Saturday onward.

Bottom line: Five-day alert, two waves, 61 provinces plus Bangkok. Upper Thailand gets hit first with storms and hail. The south gets heavy rain and flood risk from Saturday. For Bangkok, the overlap of rain and high tides is the concern. Prepare Thursday, stay alert through the weekend.

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THAILAND JUST TRIPLED THE TAX ON IMPORTED EVS. IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT BUYING ONE, THE MATH JUST CHANGED.

The cabinet approved an increase in the excise tax on fully imported electric vehicles from 10% to 35% for battery-electric vehicles and from 15% to 35% for range-extended EVs. The new rate takes effect January 1, 2027. EVs manufactured in Thailand keep the existing 2% excise tax. The immediate impact on retail prices is expected to be up to 10% on imported models. The move targets vehicles imported as finished products, particularly from China, which accounts for 96% of Thailand’s $2.37 billion in EV imports during the first nine months of 2026. Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said the goal is to make Thailand an EV manufacturing and export hub while preserving the existing auto supply chain and the large number of Thai jobs it supports. The Board of Investment has already approved $4.59 billion across 189 EV projects. Manufacturers that commit to building in Thailand can negotiate preferential tax rates.

For consumers, this creates a window. If you have been looking at an imported EV, the next two months are your last chance to buy at current pricing before the January 1 hike. Demand for EVs in Thailand has been surging: 191,273 new EV registrations between January and September, up 83% year over year. Electrified vehicles now account for 55% of all new car registrations for the first time. But there is a catch that fewer people talk about. Thailand’s EV insurance market has not kept pace with the sales boom. Premiums for electric vehicles are higher than for comparable petrol cars, and some insurers are still figuring out how to price the risk on newer Chinese EV brands with limited repair history in the country. For foreigners specifically, you can legally own a car in Thailand with a non-immigrant visa and proof of address. Many long-term expats outside central Bangkok own vehicles. But between the tax hike on imports, higher insurance costs and the question of resale value on a rapidly evolving market, the total cost of EV ownership is more complicated than the sticker price suggests.

Bottom line: Imported EVs get a 25-percentage-point tax hike on January 1. Locally built EVs stay at 2%. If you want an imported model at current prices, the window closes in two months. If you are buying locally made, nothing changes. Either way, factor in higher insurance costs and do the full math before signing.

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⚡ QUICK HITS

The cabinet approved a ฿45 cap on Bangkok train fares, but it only applies to Thai nationals. The new ฿17-45 fare range covers the Greater Bangkok rail network as a one-year pilot starting January 1, 2027. Here is the part that matters: the subsidy does not apply to foreigners or expats. Thai commuters will pay full standard fare at the gate and receive a refund for the difference through the government’s Pao Tang app. So if you are reading this newsletter, your BTS and MRT fares are not changing. The policy is worth knowing because it signals how the government is thinking about public transit affordability, but the direct benefit stays with Thai citizens.

An Emirates jet got stuck on a Suvarnabhumi taxiway. The taxiway is now under repair. One day after we reported that BKK is doubling its capacity to 120 million passengers, a plane literally could not move. The irony writes itself, but the reality is that Suvarnabhumi’s infrastructure is showing its age, which is exactly why the expansion was approved.

Customs officers at Suvarnabhumi seized 8,900 weight loss injection pens from a Chinese passenger. Two suitcases, 8,900 illegal pens, arriving from Bangladesh. The GLP-1 medication black market is real and it is running through Bangkok’s airport. If you are buying weight loss injections from unofficial sources in Thailand, this is what part of the supply chain looks like.

Over 31,000 AK-47 rounds were seized in the waters near Koh Kut. The ammunition was intercepted offshore, adding another layer to the ongoing security situation near Thailand’s eastern maritime border. The seizure is significant in scale and comes amid heightened military presence along multiple border zones.

🍸 SPOT OF THE DAY

VERTIGO TOO HIDDEN SKY BAR & RESTAURANT (60TH FLOOR, BANYAN TREE BANGKOK, SATHORN)

Most people know Vertigo, the open-air rooftop bar on the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree. Fewer people know about Vertigo TOO, one floor below. It is an indoor sky bar and restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that give you the same panoramic skyline views without the rain, wind or humidity. On a night when the weather cooperates, the outdoor terrace is open too. The space is modern and intimate, designed for celebrations, date nights and the kind of evening where you want to feel 60 floors above your regular Wednesday. The menu blends Thai and Western flavors: Thai spicy tuna ceviche, French oysters done Thai style, Hokkaido scallops, Isaan-inspired steak with spicy dipping sauce, duck bao buns and a T-bone for the table. Cocktails are creative and the wine list is deep. Live music plays on Fridays. The staff is consistently praised for handling special occasions with extra touches: surprise desserts, rose petals, framed photos. Mains run ฿800-1,600.

The 4.6-star rating across 499 Google reviews is strong for a venue at this price point. “Good drinks, nice music, good service, great atmosphere,” one reviewer wrote. Another called the duck bao buns and T-bone “incredible.” This is not an every-week spot for most people. It is the spot you save for a birthday, an anniversary, or the night you want to show someone why you live in Bangkok. Reservations required.

→ Check their menu and find them here ←

Insider tip: Book a window table on the south side for the best view of Lumpini Park and the skyline. Friday nights have live music. Call ahead.

📍 60th Floor, Banyan Tree Bangkok, 21/100 S Sathon Rd, Sathon, Bangkok 10120
📞 02 679 1200
🕐 Restaurant from 6:30PM | Bar 9PM-midnight
⭐ 4.6 stars (499 Google reviews) | ฿800-1,600
🌐 banyantree.com

Reservations required. Smart casual dress code. Always check opening times before heading out.

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