The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology warned the public on Tuesday to remain vigilant about potentially dangerous natural phenomena such as thunderstorms – with their associated lightning strikes, strong winds and flooding – and strong coastal waves.

The guidance comes as the Kingdom continues to experience the effects of a slow-moving trough of low atmospheric pressure and the southwestern monsoon increases its influence on coastal areas.

The Ministry said that from Wednesday until next Tuesday, similar conditions to the past two weeks will continue to prevail in Cambodia, ensuring, at the very least, light rain throughout the country.

Coastal provinces and low-lying places in the east of the country near the border with Vietnam were forecast to receive a medium to heavy rainfall throughout the seven-day period, while heavier rain is predicted in other areas.

Thunderstorms and lightning strikes are expected in coastal areas on Wednesday and Thursday, with the resultant strong winds and high waves.

Northwestern provinces were forecast to experience light to medium rainfall, less than in recent weeks. The northeastern provinces bordering Vietnam were also predicted to see light to medium rainfall.

“Please be informed and exercise increased caution regarding thunderstorms, lightning strikes and sea waves,” the ministry said.

Posts with accompanying photographs on the ministry’s official Facebook page said there had been heavy rain on Tuesday in Oddar Meanchey province’s Banteay Ampil and Chongkal districts and Pailin province’s Pailin and Sala Krao districts.

The ministry reported moderate rainfall in Banteay Meanchey province’s Mongkol Borei and Sisophon districts.

Light rain was reported in Battambang province’s Banan, Battambang, Ek Phnom, Ratanak Mondol and Thma Koul districts, while the rainfall in every district of Koh Kong province had decreased on Tuesday, the ministry said.