Is it just us, or is it a little hot in here?

Dan Tri reports that northern Vietnam experienced its hottest first two weeks of a year in the last half-century.

Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy head of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, told the news source that through the first 15 days of this year, average temperatures in the region were 4°C higher than normal. Temperatures during this period averaged 21.2°C, compared to the usual 17.3°C.

"Even in Hanoi, these are also the hottest weeks yet, higher than the record numbers in the first weeks of January 2010," Lam added.

South of the capital, from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue provinces, temperatures were as high as 5°C above normal. The forecasting center put this down to El Niño and minimal rain.

These warm temperatures are expected to continue through February, with a few brief cold fronts arriving, though rainfall will remain extremely low, meaning rivers and lakes will face low water levels.

Much further south, meanwhile, the Mekong Delta is battling severe saltwater intrusion amid a drought and ever-increasing sea levels.