Heavy rain turned a festival into a washout in northern Thailand.

Villagers were preparing for the festive gathering, setting up dining tables, and arranging a stage for performances when it rained in Mae Lao, Chiang Rai, on March 18.

Footage shows a severe downpour with strong gusts of wind destroying the setup, leaving tents blown apart and canopies torn, while furniture was left soaking wet.

This prompted organisers to postpone the event due to the continuous rainfall.

One worker said: 'We had to quickly find new places to take cover, but many of us ended up drenched.'

Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors until the storm subsides.

The Meteorological Department forecasts summer storms, including thunderstorms, strong winds, hail, and lightning, across most regions of the country at the start of this week, followed by lower temperatures.

Thailand has a tropical monsoon climate with a hot, rainy season from May to October, driven by the southwest monsoon winds. Thunderstorms are common during the summer rainy season, sometimes with heavy downpours, gusty winds, and lightning. Major cities like Bangkok can experience urban flooding from the intense rainfall.