Short answer
Heavy rain flooded roads in Phuket's Thalang, Mueang Phuket and Kathu districts on 25 October 2026, and at about 3 am on 26 October a flash flood carrying mud and rocks hit the Nanai area of Patong. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation sent phone alerts on 26 and 28 October. The weather department expected southern rain to ease after 29 October, with waves above two metres possible in thunderstorm areas of the Andaman Sea.
Roads flooded on 25 October, mud hit Patong on 26 October
Heavy rain on Sunday 25 October 2026 flooded roads in three Phuket districts, Thalang, Mueang Phuket and Kathu, the Nation reported. A section of Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang became impassable to small vehicles, and flooding was also reported on Phra Phuket Kaew Road and in Rawai, Chalong and Choeng Thale.
Overnight the rain continued. At about 3.05 am on 26 October a flash flood carrying rocks, soil and mud came down the hill into the Nanai area of Patong, damaging homes, shops and cars, the Nation reported. Thai PBS World added that floodwater reached 20–30 centimetres on some main roads, that high tide stopped the water draining to the sea, and that small cars and motorcycles were barred from several roads, including Na Nai Road.
How much rain fell and what the warnings said
The rain gauges on Phuket's water-monitoring system showed 117 mm in 24 hours at Ban Na Yai, 94.4 mm at Bang Neaw Dum Reservoir, 93.2 mm at Rawai and 88.2 mm at Bang Wad Dam, the Nation reported. The Office of the National Water Resources put Phuket's reading at 128 mm at 7 am on 26 October, the highest in the south, in its twelfth warning of 2026 for 14 southern provinces.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) sent Cell Broadcast alerts, through AIS, True and NT, to people in Phuket on 26 October and again on 28 October for Mueang Phuket and Thalang. It told people in low-lying areas, beside waterways and at the foot of hills to move belongings to higher ground. The 24-hour hotline is 1784.
Rain should ease after 29 October; the sea may not
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said a low-pressure area over the Andaman Sea and a cold air mass from China were behind the unsettled weather. Its warning No. 10, issued on 27 October, put Phuket among 12 southern provinces with heavy rain on 28 October. Thaiger quoted the department on 28 October as expecting rain in parts of the south to decrease after 29 October, though scattered showers and isolated heavy rain may continue.
At sea, the TMD warned that waves could exceed two metres in thunderstorm areas of both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, and told boat operators to check their routes and avoid sailing through storms. None of the reports we read mentions a ban on boat departures from Phuket.
What it means for a Phuket tour day
On our Phi Phi and Maya Bay speedboat tour the minibus collects you between about 7:00 and 8:30 am, and the boat leaves Royal Phuket Marina at about 9:30. If the sea is unsafe, the operator moves the trip to another date or refunds it. The half-day city tour picks up in Patong, Karon, Kata and Phuket Town, and its order of stops can change with traffic and weather.
If your hotel is in Patong or Kathu, allow extra time for the pickup after heavy rain and keep your phone's alerts switched on. Send us your date and hotel on WhatsApp and we tell you what we know for that day before you pay.
Practical checklist
- Keep emergency alerts switched on in your phone; the DDPM sends Cell Broadcast messages in Phuket.
- Save the DDPM hotline 1784 and, if you stay in Patong, the Patong Municipality disaster line 076-342-600.
- Allow an extra hour for hotel pickups and airport transfers after heavy overnight rain.
- Stay away from the foot of hills and streams while rain is heavy.
- Ask us on WhatsApp about your boat or city tour date before you pay.
Questions and answers
Is Phuket flooded right now?
On 25 and 26 October roads flooded in Thalang, Mueang Phuket and Kathu, and a flash flood hit Patong. The DDPM sent a fresh alert on 28 October. The weather department expected rain in the south to ease after 29 October.
Are boat tours from Phuket still running?
None of the reports we read mention a ban on boat departures. The TMD told boat operators to check routes and avoid storms, with waves above two metres possible. On our Phi Phi tour the operator moves the trip or refunds it if the sea is unsafe.
What are the Cell Broadcast alerts?
They are warnings the DDPM sends to all phones in an area through the mobile networks AIS, True and NT. They arrive without an app or a sign-up, so keep emergency alerts switched on.
Who do I call if I need help?
The DDPM runs a 24-hour hotline on 1784 and a LINE account, @1784DDPM. In Patong the municipality's disaster prevention division answers around the clock on 076-342-600.