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Milder heatwaves, heavier rains forecast for Vietnam this year
Vietnam will have milder weather this year, with hot spells arriving later than usual and rainfall exceeding normal levels, according to the weather office.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said from April to June the ENSO climate phenomenon, short for El Niño–Southern Oscillation, which causes unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, is expected to be neutral with a 70-80% probability, influencing weather patterns in Vietnam.
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A construction worker under the scorching sun in Ho Chi Minh City on April 9, 2024, when outdoor temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius. |
Cold air waves will gradually weaken. Heatwaves in the northern and central regions will arrive later and be less intense than in previous years.
Temperatures are expected to increase in these areas from May.
In the Central Highlands and southern regions, heatwaves are forecast to begin later than usual in April bringing fewer days of extreme heat.
Overall, temperatures across the country will stay close to long-term averages, except in the northwest, where they may rise 0.5-1 degrees Celsius above average in May.
Despite the milder outlook, northern and central Vietnam are expected to experience prolonged high temperatures in July and August before conditions gradually ease in September.
The rainy season beginning in April will bring heavy precipitation to the northern, north-central, Central Highlands, and southern regions, with particularly heavy downpours forecast in May and June.
In the north, it is expected to be normal in April at 70-120 mm in the plains and more than 150 mm in mountainous areas.
In May there is likely to be a 5-10% increase in rainfall.
June will see rains of 250 mm, with some highland areas receiving as much as 500 mm.
In the central region, rainfall in April will be close to normal levels but could increase by 5-15% in May to reach 200 mm.
In the Central Highlands and southern regions, rainfall will be 5-15% above normal in April and May.
Between July and September six storms are forecast to brew over the East Sea, with three potentially making landfall over Vietnam.
In July and August the north will receive a total of 250-500 mm of rainfall. September precipitation will be 150-250 mm, again in line with the normal range.
The Central Highlands and south will get rainfall of 250-400 mm.
Vietnam endured 19 heatwaves last year with temperatures exceeding long-term averages by 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius.
On April 28 Dong Ha in the central province of Quang Tri recorded 44 degrees, the highest April temperature in the country since 1976.
There were also 10 typhoons and one tropical depression over the East Sea last year, with five making landfall.
Typhoon Yagi was the most destructive, slamming into Quang Ninh Province and Hai Phong City in the north with up to 166 km/h winds.
As Vietnam heads into another unpredictable year, authorities warn that while extreme heat may ease, the risks of heavy rains, storms and flooding remain high.
After making landfall on Luzon Island in the Philippines, Super Typhoon Man-yi, weakened to a level-13 storm on the evening of November 17 (with winds at 134-149 km/h and gusts at level 16) and entered the East Sea/South China Sea, officially becoming Storm No. 9 of the year.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan on November 12 urged the coastal localities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh to actively make preparations to respond to Storm Toraji which became storm No. 8 after entering the East Sea/South China Sea this year on November 11 evening.
Storm Yinxing continued to weaken on Monday morning and is expected to degrade into a low-pressure area as it nears central Vietnam, while Typhoon Toraji has intensified and is projected to enter the East Sea.
To date, 35 credit institutions have announced support packages totaling 405 trillion VND (16 billion USD) to continue lending to businesses and individuals affected by storms and floods, Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Thi Hong told a question-and-answer session at the 15th National Assembly’s eighth sitting on November 11.
Tropical Storm Trami on October 24 afternoon entered the eastern part of the northern East Sea/South China Sea, becoming the sixth storm to appear in the sea so far this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
Tropical Storm Trami made landfall in the northeastern portion of the Philippines' main Luzon island early on Thursday, forcing schools and government offices to shut for a second straight day as disaster agencies brace for more rains and floods.
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