The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is warning the public, especially those living in the North, to get ready for higher-than-average temperatures, which are expected at the end of the month and will last until early April.

Many parts of Thailand, especially the lower northeast, central and eastern regions, will see some rain between today and Thursday.

Once the rain clears, temperatures will begin to rise, and the changing weather will cause certain illnesses to spike, the TMD said.

Higher-than-average temperatures are expected across the North from March 30-April 3.

In another development, several provinces in the North and Northeast continue to report unhealthy levels of PM2.5 pollutants, with Chiang Mai ranked as the city with the fifth-worst air pollution in the world on Monday, with an air quality index of 162.

Some 26 provinces reported PM2.5 levels over 37.5 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m³), mostly in the northern and northeastern regions.

The air quality in Bangkok was better, with PM2.5 levels ranging from 16.6 to 32.8 μg/m³.