As of December 30, a cold air system was moving southward across northern areas, with scattered rain and daytime temperatures ranging from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. Within the next 24 to 48 hours, the cold air is forecast to first affect northeastern Vietnam before spreading to the northwest, the north-central region, and parts of central Vietnam.

From the night of December 31 into January 1, northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces will see rain and scattered showers, with isolated thunderstorms. Thunderstorms may be accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, hail and strong gusts.

From January 1, temperatures in northern and north-central Vietnam are forecast to drop noticeably. Between January 2 and 3, mountainous and midland areas in the north may experience severe cold, with the lowest temperatures in northern Vietnam ranging from 11 to 14 degrees Celsius, and from 8 to 11 degrees in mountainous and midland areas. In high-altitude locations, temperatures could fall below 7 degrees. In the north-central region, lows are expected to range from 13 to 16 degrees.

In Hanoi, rain and showers are expected from the night of December 31 through January 1, with colder conditions setting in from the afternoon of January 1. The lowest temperatures during this cold spell are likely to range between 12 and 14 degrees Celsius.

At sea, northeasterly winds are set to strengthen from the afternoon and evening of January 1. In the Gulf of Tonkin, winds may reach force 6 to 7, with gusts of force 8 to 9, equivalent to around 60-90 km/h, generating rough seas with waves of 2 to 3 meters. In the northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa archipelago, northeasterly winds are expected to reach force 7, with gusts up to force 9 (75-90 km/h), and waves of 3 to 5 meters.

In waters from south central Khanh Hoa province to Ho Chi Minh City and parts of the central East Sea, winds are forecast to strengthen to force 6, with gusts of force 7 to 8 (60-75 km/h), and waves of 2 to 4 meters. From the night of January 1, seas from southern Quang Tri to offshore areas east of Dak Lak will be rough under strong northeasterly winds.

The cold air is likely to bring further rainfall from early January 2 through January 4 to areas from Ha Tinh to Da Nang, as well as eastern parts of Quang Ngai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa. Localized moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms may occur, accompanied by risks of whirlwinds, lightning, hail and strong gusts.

Weather forecasters warned that prolonged cold conditions could affect livestock, poultry and crop growth, while localized heavy rainfall may increase the risk of flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods in small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes. Strong winds and high waves at sea are expected to directly affect fishing vessels and other maritime activities. Residents and local authorities were advised to closely monitor weather updates and take timely preventive measures to minimize potential damage.

Strong cold surge grips northern Vietnam, triggers widespread impact

VOV.VN - A strong cold surge has swept across the northern and north-central regions of Vietnam, plunging temperatures and triggering widespread rain, strong winds and hazardous conditions.