Forecast: Starting from the afternoon of December 16, the strongest cold air mass of the season will sweep down into our country. From December 17, cold weather with severe chill will prevail in the Northern and North Central regions, lasting for about 5-6 days.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced that a very strong cold air mass is moving down toward our country.
It is expected that around the afternoon of December 16, this cold air mass will affect the Northern region, followed by impacts on other areas in the North and North Central, and some locations in the South Central region. Northeasterly winds in the inland areas will strengthen to levels 3-4, while coastal areas will see winds of levels 4-5.
From December 17, the Northern and North Central regions will experience severe cold and chilling weather, with temperatures dropping in the areas from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai.
During this cold spell, the lowest temperatures in the plains and coastal areas of the Northern and North Central regions will generally range from 8-11 degrees Celsius. In the midland and mountainous areas of the Northern region, temperatures will generally range from 3-5 degrees Celsius, with some high mountainous areas dropping below 0 degrees Celsius.
The cold spell this weekend will also affect the South Central provinces.
The lowest temperatures in the areas from Quang Binh to Thua Thien Hue will generally be between 12-15 degrees Celsius, while from Da Nang to Quang Ngai, temperatures will range from 16-18 degrees Celsius.
It is forecasted that the severe cold weather in the Northern and North Central provinces will last from December 17 to December 23, with the coldest days being December 18 and 19, when the average daytime temperatures will be below 13 degrees Celsius, and in high mountainous areas, temperatures may drop below 0 degrees Celsius, leading to the possibility of frost and hoarfrost.
Cold weather will also persist from December 17 to December 23 in the area from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai.
Additionally, due to the influence of the strong cold air, from the night of December 16 to December 18, the area from Ha Tinh to Khanh Hoa will experience rain, moderate rain, and localized heavy rain and thunderstorms. There is a risk of lightning strikes and strong gusts during thunderstorms.
As a result of the cold air, from the evening of December 16, the Gulf of Tonkin, the sea area from Quang Tri to Ca Mau, and the South China Sea region (including the waters of the Spratly Islands) will see increasing northeasterly winds up to level 7, gusts reaching level 9, with wave heights of 2-4 meters, resulting in rough sea conditions.
The northern and central parts of the South China Sea will also experience strong northeasterly winds at levels 7, occasionally reaching level 8, with gusts up to level 10, and wave heights of 4-6 meters, leading to strong sea disturbances.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Head of the Weather Forecast Department at the Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center, the Northern and North Central regions are entering the peak of this year’s cold season. It is expected that during the second half of December and the first half of January 2023, severe cold spells may occur in succession.
