A strong cold air mass is currently moving south and is forecast to affect the Northeast region from 13/12, then expand across the plains and Northwest region. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting announced this on the morning of 11/12.

This cold front will cause widespread severe cold, with some high mountainous areas experiencing damaging cold. The lowest temperatures in the Northern plains will range from 11-14 degrees C, while mountainous and midland areas will see 7-10 degrees C. High mountainous regions are forecast to drop below 5 degrees C.

Beyond the North, central Vietnam, particularly the North and Central Central Coast, will also feel the impact from 13/12. The North Central Coast is likely to experience severe cold, with minimum temperatures commonly between 12-15 degrees C.

According to Accuweather, Hanoi is experiencing temperatures of 20-24 degrees C today but will gradually cool in the coming days, reaching 14-20 degrees C by the weekend. Elevated areas above 1,500 meters, such as Sa Pa (Lao Cai), will see the lowest temperatures of this spell, ranging from 8-12 degrees C.

Hanoi residents in the cold. Photo: Ngoc Thanh

The cold air mass will also bring strong northeast winds: level 3 inland across northern Vietnam, level 4-5 in coastal areas, with some places reaching level 6 and gusts up to level 7. In the Gulf of Tonkin, winds will be level 6-7, with gusts 8-9, generating waves 2-4 meters high. The Northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa area, will experience winds of level 7-8, gusts up to level 9, and waves 4-6 meters high.

From the evening and night of 13/12, sea areas from southern Quang Tri to Ca Mau, the central East Sea, and the southwestern East Sea (including the western Truong Sa) will see winds of level 6-7, gusts 8-9, and waves 3-5 meters high.

In addition to temperature drops and increased winds, the cold front will bring thunderstorms, potentially accompanied by tornadoes, lightning, hail, and strong gusts to the Northern and North Central regions from the night of 12/12 until the end of the night of 13/12. The rain zone will then shift south to Quang Tri - Da Nang, eastern Quang Ngai - Dak Lak, and Khanh Hoa from the night of 13/12 until the end of the night of 14/12.

Meteorological agencies warn that the severe and damaging cold could impact livestock and hinder or damage crop growth. Heavy rainfall poses risks of: flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods on small rivers and streams, and landslides on slopes. Localized heavy rain could also cause inundation in urban and industrial areas.

Gia Chinh