The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology announced on December 13 that from December 14-20, the temperature in some provinces will drop as low as 16 degrees Celsius, especially in the northeast region as Cambodia will be affected by a high pressure system coming from China and a northeast monsoon of moderate to strong intensity.
The ministry said that the central lowlands, including Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Siem Reap and Battambang, are forecast to cool down to around 16-19C overnight. In some upland provinces, such as Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey, the minimum temperature will drop to around 16-18C, while on the seas there will be moderate to average sized waves.
The meteorology ministry also called on the public, especially residents and military members who are living in the Dangrek Mountains or the northeast plateau, as well as fishermen, to be sure to dress warmly enough for the weather.
Preah Sihanouk provincial administration spokesman Kheang Phearum said the provincial administration will continue to inform local fishermen to be very careful when fishing at sea.
“Whenever we receive a weather alert from the ministry, the provincial administration always conveys the information to the public to take care and avoid any danger,” he said.
At the same time, Preah Vihear provincial administration spokesperson Nuon Volak also stated that they had received notification from the ministry and that they would continue to alert the public and especially the military that the weather will be unusually cold.
In early November, Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the authorities and the public to pay attention to their health and to take care of grandparents and the elderly when the weather cools because it can make them more susceptible to illness.
The Ministry of Health also advised people to protect their health in cold weather by wearing thicker clothes to maintain a normal body temperature.
The ministry said that older people often have low body temperatures due to slower metabolisms and reduced physical activity, which can cause their body temperatures especially to drop lower than normal.
“The elderly are at higher risk due to the cold, which can even be life-threatening due to the body's response to it, especially those with diabetes and heart disease,” the ministry said.
