The Meteorological Department warned that an intense high pressure ridge had extended to cover upper Thailand. Cold weather and winds are expected in the North, Northeast, Central and East regions until Wednes-

day.

Sixteen districts and two sub-districts of Chiang Rai and some districts in Chiang Mai have been declared as disaster areas after a third day of temperatures below 15 degrees centigrade.

In upland areas such as Mae Sai, Mae Chan, Phan, Thoeng, Wiang Pa Pao, Mae Fa Luang and Wiang Kaen, temperatures below 5 degrees have been recorded at night.

More than 146,700 people, mostly living on the top of mountains, have been facing cold conditions. Chiang Rai's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office estimates that 140,000 people lack suitable clothing to cope with the cold. The province approved a budget of Bt300,000 for the distribution of clothes and medicines to affected people. Centres have been established in several districts to receive donations of warm clothing and blankets.

Santhanee Chaichiangpin, Chiang Mai's Meteorological Officer, said a mass of cold air covering the upper North had caused temperatures keep dropping.

Muang district was covered by fog yesterday while the temperature dropped to only 14-15C.

Frost has occurred on Doi Inthanon, the country's highest peak, where the temperature has been under 5C. Frost is regarded as a phenomenon by people living in the sub-tropical lowlands.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department also warned about the El Nino phenomenon, which has caused surface temperatures in the middle and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean to increase by more than 1-2 degrees in the past month.

It said El Nino would cause unusually high temperatures in Thailand during winter and summer as well as a little rainfall.