Around 3 PM, dark clouds enveloped Nam Nghiep village, Ngoc Chien commune, Son La province, followed by a hailstorm that lasted about 15 minutes. Vu Cuong, who was driving at the time, reported that the hail was not very dense, with stones larger than a fingertip.

Hailstorm in Nam Nghiep village, afternoon of 22/3. Video: Vu Cuong

At the same time, hailstorms lasted about 10 minutes in Hang Mon 1 and Hang Mon 2 villages, Phieng Khoai commune, Son La province. The hailstones pelted plum orchards, causing fruit to fall. After the storm, the villagers' plum orchards were stripped bare, with a layer of 1-2 cm diameter plums scattered across the ground.

Plum orchard with fallen fruit after the hailstorm on the afternoon of 22/3.

Around 5:15 PM, in Phu Ninh commune, Phu Tho province, a thunderstorm with lightning erupted after a gloomy day. Toan, 32 years old, residing in Ma Thuong B area, heard a rattling sound on his corrugated iron roof as he went to close the gate.

One minute later, many hailstones the size of a thumb fell onto the road. "It's been several years since I last saw hail", Toan said.

Concerned about broken car windows, some people quickly moved their oto parked along the road into covered yards. After a few minutes of hail, the sky turned to heavy rain, lasting about 30 minutes, causing sapodilla and star apple fruits to fall.

Hail pelting residential roofs in Phu Ninh commune. Video: Duong Tam

Northern Vietnam is currently in the transition period from spring to summer, a time when extreme weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning frequently occur. Last night, some areas in Yen Bai and Tuyen Quang experienced hailstorms. On 17/3, a thunderstorm and hailstorm damaged 24 houses in Lai Chau.

The cause of hailstorms is a significant temperature difference between residual cold air masses and the rapid daytime temperature increase, making the atmosphere unstable. This creates conditions for strong thunderstorm clouds to develop.

Within a short time, wind gusts can intensify, accompanied by hail and whirlwinds, causing damage to roofs, toppling trees, and directly affecting daily life and production. Meteorological agencies advise residents to closely monitor weather developments, limit outdoor activities during thunderstorms, and proactively reinforce homes and vehicles to mitigate risks.

Gia Chinh - Duong Tam