The Royal Thai Air Force deployed a jet plane to try and weaken a hail storm affecting northern Thailand.

The Alpha Jet of Squadron 231 was dispatched to the Samoeng District of Chiang Mai province on March 18 to release silver iodide flares into the storm clouds.

The chemical suppresses hail by acting as 'nuclei' for ice formation, redistributing water vapor in the clouds such that precipitation falls as rain or smaller, numerous ice pebbles rather than larger, more damaging hailstones.

The Air Force said pilots normally avoid flying directly into rain clouds to prevent damage to the aircraft but the intensity of the storm necessitated the mission.

The operation came after a raging hail storm ripped through the northern Thai province on March 18.

Officials said that at least 12 people were injured across the city when high voltage power lines collapsed, roofs were dislodges and billboards toppled over.

Electricity was lost across more than half of Chiang Mai, the country's second-largest city after the capital Bangkok, while dozens of cars were also damaged.

Emergency workers were still working to restore power to some homes and repair damage on Sunday morning, March 19.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia are approaching their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms.