Heatwave grips Vietnam, temperatures set to rise past 39℃

The heat wave that has been baking the northern and north-central regions for the past few days is forecast to reach its peak on July 7 – 8 before subsiding a bit the following days.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the northern mountainous and midland areas are anticipated to record high temperatures of 35-38℃.

Meanwhile, the northern plain, and localities stretching from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen are poised to experience extremely baking heat as the daytime temperatures are likely to reach 36-39℃ or even more than 39℃. Relative humidity is forecast to drop to a low of 45%.

The capital city of Hanoi is among localities that will endure the extreme heat this time, with daytime temperatures set to rise to 39℃ on both July 7 and July 8. The sweltering heat is forecast to last from 10am to 6pm. People hitting the concrete or asphalted road can feel the heat of 42-45℃.

This heat wave is expected to expand across the northern and north-central regions throughout the weekend and last until early next week before it will ease just after July 13.

Meteorologists say the average temperature in July 2023 in all regions across Vietnam is forecast to be about 0.5℃ higher than the average of previous years. Particularly, it will be 0.5-1.0 higher than the average recorded in the northern and north-central regions.

The hot weather is said to affect the northern midland and northern plain in the first 10-15 days of the month and may last longer in the northern and north-central regions.

In July 2023, one or two storms and tropical depressions are likely to form in the East Sea and may affect the northern and north-central regions.