Starting today, a strong cold air mass is sweeping down to the Northern region, dropping the lowest temperatures in the lowlands to 15 degrees Celsius, and in the mountainous areas below 10 degrees Celsius.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that the cold air will reach the Northeast region today, followed by the Northern Delta and Northwest regions tomorrow, bringing colder weather. The common lowest temperatures will range from 15-18 degrees Celsius in the lowlands, 12-14 degrees Celsius in the mountainous areas, and below 10 degrees Celsius in high mountainous regions. The northeast winds inland will blow at levels 3-4, while along the coast, it will be at levels 4-5.
The American weather website Accuweather predicts that on Saturday, the temperature in Hanoi will drop by 7 degrees compared to December 5, reaching only 16-20 degrees Celsius. Areas above 1,500 meters above sea level, such as Sa Pa (Lao Cai), will experience severe cold, with average daily temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius from Saturday to the following Tuesday. The coldest temperatures are expected on Sunday, with nighttime temperatures dropping to 10-12 degrees Celsius.
Hanoi residents in the freezing cold of January 2024. (Photo: Giang Huy).
The strong cold air is expected to spread to the South Central Coast, with the North Central region being the most affected, bringing rain and thunderstorms, with temperatures generally between 15-18 degrees Celsius and 12-14 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas. The Central Coast will also see rain and thunderstorms, but with slightly higher temperatures, such as 22-25 degrees Celsius in Da Nang on Sunday.
Starting today, the winds in the Gulf of Tonkin will shift to northeast at levels 4-5, and then increase to level 6, with sea waves reaching heights of 1.5-3 meters. The sea area from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai will experience strong winds at level 6, with rough seas and wave heights of 2-4 meters from Saturday.
The meteorological agency has warned that thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds and lightning could impact agricultural production, causing trees to fall, damaging houses, transportation facilities, and infrastructure. Strong winds and large waves at sea may also affect vessels and other activities.
In November, there were four cold air waves, with temperatures in many areas dropping significantly, such as Mau Son (Lang Son) at 7 degrees Celsius and Sa Pa (Lao Cai) and Dong Van (Ha Giang) at 9 degrees Celsius. In December, the frequency and intensity of cold air will increase, with severe cold spells likely to appear in the latter half of the month.
