Hanoi hit by lightning amid low-pressure trough, wind convergence

The thunderstorms, accompanied by continuous thunder and lightning, woke many residents in Hanoi in the early hours of Saturday, with some lightning strikes producing loud thunderclaps across the city.

Data from the center showed that between 4:00 am and 6:00 am Saturday, 60 to more than 100 lightning strikes were recorded every 10 minutes across Vietnam and nearby areas.

Most of the lightning activity was concentrated in Hanoi and parts of neighboring provinces, including Hung Yen, Phu Tho and Ninh Binh.

Mai Van Khiem, director of the center, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the low-pressure trough combined with upper-level wind convergence over northern Vietnam had caused strong thunderstorms in Hanoi and neighboring areas early Saturday.

The strong thunderstorms resulted in frequent lightning that continued for about an hour in Hanoi and nearby areas.

The weather agency forecast scattered showers and thunderstorms in the northwestern region on Saturday, with rainfall of 10-20 mm and locally more than 50 mm.

From Saturday afternoon into the night, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected from Nghe An Province to Da Nang City and in the Central Highlands, with rainfall of 10-30 mm and locally more than 50 mm.

Southern Vietnam and Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands are forecast to see rain, moderate rain and thunderstorms, with rainfall of 20-40 mm and locally more than 100 mm.

Thunderstorms may bring tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong wind gusts, potentially affecting agricultural production and causing trees to fall and damaging homes, transportation facilities and infrastructure.

Localized heavy rain may also trigger flash floods in small rivers and streams, landslides on steep slopes and flooding in low-lying areas.