On 23/12, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced that a strong cold air mass is moving southward and is expected to affect the northern region from the night of 24/12. This cold air, combined with a strong westerly jet stream aloft, will cause showers, concentrated from the night of 24/12 to the morning of 25/12. Several tourist destinations, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Sa Pa (Lao Cai), will experience rain on Christmas eve. As the cold air intensifies, rain will gradually decrease, but mountainous and midland areas are likely to experience severe cold weather.

US-based Accuweather forecasts that the highest temperature in Hanoi will remain around 26 degrees Celsius until the end of 24/12, dropping to 15-19 degrees Celsius on 25/12. Areas above 1,500 meters, such as Sa Pa, could see temperatures fall to 7-11 degrees Celsius.

People attend Christmas mass in 2024 at the Grand Cathedral, Hanoi. Photo: Giang Huy

The central region will not yet be impacted by the cold air mass on Christmas eve. Localities such as Vinh (Nghe An), Hue, Da Nang, and Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) will be cloudy with no rain, and nighttime temperatures will remain above 20 degrees Celsius. However, from 25/12, as the cold air spreads southward, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, and Da Nang will experience rain, with localized heavy downpours.

The southern region might experience unseasonal rain on Christmas eve. In TP HCM, Can Tho, and Ca Mau, rain may occur in the afternoon and evening of 24/12 but is expected to end before 8 p.m. On 25/12, the equatorial trough will become more active, extending rain across the southern region and the southern part of Lam Dong province.

Gia Chinh