The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has warned there will be greater instances of thunderstorms this year than previously and appealed for people to be vigilant during the early hot season rains.

The ministry announcement, issued on Saturday and obtained by The Post on Sunday, said it expects rainfall across the country from Thursday to Sunday. There will also be thunderstorms, with associated lightning strikes and high winds, it said.

At the same time, the ministry said, temperatures will drop slightly, with the maximum in southeastern provinces, including coastal areas, dropping to 30-32 Celsius. Highs in other provinces are predicted to range from 32-35 Celsius.

Last week, the nationwide average temperature increased to 36-38 degrees Celsius – the highest the Kingdom has experienced for many years, and an increase on 2018.

The ministry warned recently of the effects of global warming, saying temperatures are to rise between one and two degrees Celsius compared to previous years' averages, with the period between April and the end of May seeing highs of between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius.

“From April to the end of May, there will be light rainfall in some places but also more thunderstorms, so please be more wary of these phenomena. Lightning will occur when it is about to rain,” Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology spokesman Chan Yutha said.

A report by authorities in Svay Rieng province’s Romeas Hek district, obtained by The Post on Sunday, said that late last week, at least three homes were badly damaged in storms in Chrey Thom commune, while several others had their roofs blown off. Fortunately, no one was injured, the authorities said.

National Committee for Disaster Management spokesman Keo Vy told The Post in early March that at least two people were injured and nearly 250 houses and four schools damaged by thunderstorms in early 2019.

The provinces most affected were Battambang, Pursat and Ratanakkiri.