Tropical Storm Sinlaku is expected to hit Cambodia today, bringing with it heavy rains and flooding for residents in the Kingdom’s northeastern provinces, a government meteorologist confirmed.

Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri are expected to be the most vulnerable areas, and the storm will have little effect on the rest of Cambodia, including Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, said meteorological department director Om Rina.

“The wind will bring together rain and some wind as it enters the Kingdom,” Rina said.

Sinlaku, which brought massive rainfall across the Philippines last week, grew into a tropical storm before blowing over central Vietnam and onto Cambodia. Though it will likely weaken during the move inland, Sinlaku could cause flooding and mudslides in the northeast, according to Rina.

Meanwhile, floodwaters have forced families living in more than 170 houses in Kampong Cham to relocate after a riverbank collapse destroyed some of their homes.

“Provincial authorities are working on the matter,” said Kampong Cham provincial cabinet chief Phan Kosal. “We will find safe areas to build houses and have asked people with land titles to let the displaced live there temporarily.”

The families, who reside in six of the province’s 10 districts, have been moved to safe locations and provided with food, medication and money for necessities, Kosal added.

Although Sinlaku will affect Kampong Cham, Rina said it shouldn’t worsen conditions in the province.

The storm will also precede a cold front entering Cambodia any time between mid-week to mid-December. According to Rina, the cold snap may last until early January.

Mountainous areas and northern plateaus such as Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces will experience temperatures as low as 14 degrees Celsius, while temperatures in the rest of the Kingdom could drop to a minimum of 22 degrees Celsius, he said.