Prolonged cold weather, as low as 3 degrees Celsius, hits northern, central Vietnam

By Saturday noon, the cold air had affected the entire northern region and the north-central coast area, and it will continue going south to hit other places in the central part, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

Affected by the cold spell, the northern midland and delta, and the north-central coastal areas, will have the lowest temperatures at night and in the early morning at 11-14 degrees Celsius.

The colder weather, at seven to 10 degrees Celsius, will be recorded in the northern mountainous region, and the coldest, at three degrees, will hit high mountain areas.

The area from Quang Binh province to Thua Thien Hue in the north-central region will have higher temperatures, at 15-18 degrees Celsius.

In general, the deeply cold weather will strike the northern and north central parts, while the damaging chill will hit the mountainous northern region, and snowing rains and frost will cover high mountainous areas, the center said.

This extreme weather pattern may last until after December 20, it warned.

During Saturday, the north-central region had medium to heavy rains, accompanied with thunderstorms, with precipitations of up to over 50mm.

On Sunday, the central part will see heavier rains and rainstorms, with rainfalls reaching more than 80mm.

As from Saturday, the Gulf of Tonkin and the northern part of the East Sea (including the Paracel Islands waters) will experience the strong northeast wind of 71kph, along with squalls amounting to 88kph and rough seas with waves rising up to six meters.

The sea area from south-central Binh Thuan province to the southernmost province of Ca Mau will have winds as strong as 74kph and rough seas with waves of four meters in height.

Tuoitrenews-THANH BINH