Floods forced schools closed in northeast Thailand as Typhoon Noru approached the country on Monday.

The water level in Khon Kaen province rose and reportedly reached depths of up to 1.5 metres after heavy rains submerged low-lying areas overnight on September 26.

The downpour inundated fields, with the flood spilling over into schools, temples a nd marketplaces. Merchants reportedly rushed to collect their wares that had been swept away by the currents.

The deluge also sparked traffic chaos as cars had difficulty wading through the knee-deep water. Some light vehicles were reported to have stalled in the flood after water entered their exhaust pipes.

Local media said classes were suspended at a school for the blind, which was left under 1.5 metres of flood. Authorities have dispatched boats and trucks to evacuate the forty staff and students remaining in the school dormitory.

It came amid warnings that Typhoon Noru was due to bring heavy rain to the northeast of the country this week. It is expected to cause heavy rainfall from September 27 to 29. The torrential storm has already caused nine deaths and displaced tens of thousands in the Philippines.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts from May or June until November.

Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods which cause rivers to flow faster and become dangerous.

This year, meteorologists have blamed climate change for the sustained heavy rain, which has been hitting the Thai capital and provinces around the country causing severe floods for several weeks.

Warnings of strong wind and storms were also issued for regions across the northeast, east, and south. Thailand's Center for Climate Change and Disaster claimed the coming months could see heavier, longer rainfalls, due to 'climate change'.

Local media reported that the country has this year seen 'an unusually sustained and persistent rainy season'.