PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has announced that the 2023 rainy season will come in the second week of May and will end in the first week of November. This year's rainy season is expected later than in 2022. The Ministry anticipates less than average rainfall this year-even less than last year.

The Ministry of Water Resources has stated that early in the rainy season, there may be frequent thunderstorms and heavy winds. In the middle of the rainy season from August to September, they expect light to moderate rain and occasional thunderstorms and heavy winds. The end of the rainy season may end in the first week of November with light to moderate rainfall in some places and no rain in others. Coastal and river areas especially can expect moderate thunderstorms and squalls.

According to the Ministry of Water Resources, during the rainy season this year, the number of storms is likely to be in the range of 24-26 storms in the Pacific Ocean, with some storms occurring directly over the South China Sea.

The ministry says there is a possibility for a short dry spell from early July to early August. The transitional period between the El Nino and La Nina weather phenomena is expected to cause a heat wave from May to August. From September to November, the El Nino phenomenon may increase by 70% to 80%, which brings above-average-sea-surface temperatures to coastal regions.