BANGKOK: -- The Meteorological Department Thursday warned residents of 20 provinces to brace themselves for heavy rains and possible flash floods.

The provinces are Phrae, Tak, Sukhothai, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Sa Kaew, Chanthaburi, Trat, and Phetchaburi.

The department said in its morning forecast that the rains would be unleashed by the influence of a low pressure ridge over the central part of the country coupled with the southwestern monsoon wind over the Andaman and Gulf of Thailand.

-- The Nation 2007-09-20