From April 5–7, during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration holiday, Northern and North Central Vietnam will experience scattered thunderstorms and showers due to the influence of a weak easterly cold front, while the southern region continues to endure widespread heatwaves.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, this evening and tonight (April 5), the North will see rain and scattered thunderstorms. In the Northwest region, rainfall may be locally heavy, with expected volumes ranging from 15–30mm, and in some places exceeding 50mm.

Thunderstorms may bring tornados, lightning, hail, and strong gusts of wind. Localized downpours could also trigger flash floods in small rivers and streams, landslides on slopes, and urban flooding in low-lying areas.

Weather models predict that between April 5–7, Northern Vietnam and parts of the North Central Coast will shift to cloudy weather with scattered rain and thunderstorms, particularly in the Northwest where moderate to heavy rain is expected. Nighttime and early morning temperatures may dip, resulting in cooler conditions.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Huy, an expert in climate change and natural disaster forecasting, noted that models indicate a high probability of another cold air mass between April 13–16. However, he emphasized the need to await further updates for confirmation.

Meanwhile, on April 5–6, Southern Vietnam will experience heatwaves, with maximum daytime temperatures of 35–36°C, and some areas exceeding 36°C. Relative humidity is expected to drop to 45–50%. The heatwave is likely to persist through April 10.

In North Central Vietnam, following showers triggered by the current cold front around April 6–7, hot weather is forecast to return around April 10–12.

Seasonal transitions bring increased risk of severe weather

For April, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that temperatures in Northern Vietnam will remain around the long-term average. In North Central Vietnam, they may fall 0.5–1°C below average, while South Central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and the Southern region may experience temperatures 0.5–1°C above average.

Rainfall is expected to be 5–15mm lower than average across most of the country. However, parts of the northern midlands and mountains, as well as the Southern Central Highlands and Southeastern region, may see 10–30mm more rainfall than usual.

Of particular note, early April may see stronger-than-usual cold air activity, followed by a gradual weakening toward the end of the month.

As this is the transitional period between seasons, experts warn of an increased likelihood of thunderstorms, tornados, lightning, and hailstorms across the country.

Regarding heatwaves, intense heat is expected to affect the Northwest and Central regions during mid-to-late April. Conditions are also forecast to worsen in Southeast Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and Mekong Delta provinces.

Bao Anh