When the soi becomes a river

Bangkok sits barely above sea level, and a heavy downpour can leave streets under 20–50 cm of water within minutes (น้ำท่วมขัง). It usually drains in an hour or two, and the city simply waits: taxis refuse trips, motorbikes park on footbridges, and people roll up their trousers. Big floods are different: in 2011 large parts of the central plains and northern Bangkok were under water for weeks. Practical habits: keep sandals and a poncho at work, avoid wading through floodwater if you have cuts (it can carry infection), stay clear of electrical boxes, and choose a room above the ground floor if your area floods often. Locals know which sois flood first; ask the guard.