Feeling like this summer has been excruciatingly long? It’s not just you.
In recent weeks, northern Vietnam has gone through its longest heatwave in decades, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, which confirmed with VnExpress that the region recorded 21 straight sweltering days back in June. The figure was 26 days at the monitoring station in Hanoi’s Ha Dong District. This has been the longest period of blistering heat since 1971, the news source adds.
This year’s average temperatures were also 1.5–2.5°C higher than previous years. Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, head of the center’s weather forecasting department, shared that the enduring heatwave is the result of low-pressure areas and gió Lào, a type of dry, warm wind flowing into the northern region from Laos across the Annamite Range.
In provinces like Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh, temperature readings reached 36–39°C in June.
In another set of predictions by the center, it’s very likely that northern provinces will see colder weather sooner in 2020 compared to before, as Director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting Mai Văn Khiêm told Hanoi Moi.
“It’s predicted that winter will come sooner; cold air will affect the region sooner, with average temperatures that will be lower than last winter,” Khiêm explained. “So, it’s possible that the northern winter will come sooner and the people will be able to welcome the first bout of chilly weather earlier.”
From October to December, average temperatures in northern and central regions will be lower than in previous years by 0.5 to 1°C.
Additionally, projections show that the northern region will face one or two tropical depressions in August and September. The central region, on the other hand, is set to suffer from stormy periods and flooding in November and December.
Nationwide, Vietnam should expect to see from 11 to 13 typhoons and tropical depressions this year coming from the East Sea, up to six of which will make landfall, causing major rain and destruction.
