Unprecedented Heat to Grip All Three Regions
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), this year's April 30th-May 1st holiday will be marked by exceptional weather conditions. For the first time in the past decade, all three regions of northern, central, and southern Vietnam will experience a heat wave during the holiday period.
On April 25th, Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Head of the Weather Forecasting Department at the NCHMF, stated that the upcoming holiday will be particularly scorching. He emphasized that such widespread heat during this time has not been observed in the last ten years.
Sweltering Temperatures to Dominate Holiday
The most notable weather feature during the holiday will be the intense heat. From April 26th to around April 30th, northern Vietnam and the central provinces will be affected by the circulation of a low-pressure area in the west.
As a result, northern Vietnam will experience severe heat, with peak temperatures in the northwest ranging from 36-39 degrees Celsius (96.8-102.2 degrees Fahrenheit), with some areas exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). In the northeast and Hanoi, temperatures will reach 36-38 degrees Celsius (96.8-100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), with isolated regions exceeding 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Central Vietnam, from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen, will also endure severe and extreme heat, with temperatures ranging from 37-40 degrees Celsius (98.6-104 degrees Fahrenheit) and some areas surpassing 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
From April 26th to 30th, southern Vietnam, including the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta, will experience widespread heat, with temperatures reaching 35-37 degrees Celsius (95-98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and localized regions exceeding 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Dangerous Weather Conditions to Follow Holiday
After the April 30th-May 1st holiday, during the first two days of May 2024, a weak cold air mass from mainland China is expected to move southward. This is likely to bring showers and thunderstorms back to northern Vietnam from May 1st to 2nd. In southern Vietnam, southwesterly winds are also expected to increase, leading to thunderstorms.
During the early days of May 2024, residents in northern and southern Vietnam should be wary of thunderstorms, squalls, lightning, hail, and strong gusts of wind.
Prolonged Heat and Dangerous Weather Forecast
According to NCHMF projections, the transition period from the cool season to the hot season and the dry season to the rainy season will occur in northern Vietnam from now until June (primarily May). As a result, strong thunderstorms accompanied by squalls, lightning, hail, and powerful wind gusts are anticipated to be most frequent during this time of year. In mountainous areas, local terrain effects can enhance the development of convective clouds, potentially leading to severe thunderstorms and other hazardous weather conditions.