The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has again dismissed claims Thailand will suffer from a severe heatwave tied to the next week's spring equinox.
The department said Tuesday talk of a heatwave in Thailand during the equinox period of March 20-23 was just speculation.
The weather is expected to be hot, but actually a little cooler than last year, the forecasters said. The myth of a heatwave caused by the season's turn is an annual rumour, and is annually shot down by the TMD.
The department was unaware of any approaching heatwave and had not issued any warning that one was imminent, the department said Tuesday.
Earlier, a post on social media warning of soaring temperatures during the equinox period in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand went viral online.
According to the rumours, the equinox raises temperatures to about 40C for several days, which can result in dehydration and sun stroke, and can be life-threatening if the public fails to take precautions.
The TMD said an equinox is a normal phenomenon that occurs when the plane of the Equator passes through the sun's centre, which makes day and night of equal duration.
Temperatures tend to increase by 5C on average, for about five days.
The department insisted Thailand won't face a severe heatwave, even though temperatures may exceed 40C.