High tides, afternoon rain threaten flooding in Ho Chi Minh City

The weather agency said water levels at most monitoring stations along rivers, canals and waterways in Ho Chi Minh City would continue rising rapidly due to the early ninth lunar month's high-tide cycle.

As this is one of the year's high-tide periods, heavy rain coinciding with high tides could inundate low-lying areas and riverbank neighborhoods, disrupting traffic and socio-economic activities.

Meanwhile, central Vietnam is forecast to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the northern midlands and plains, with heavy rain possible in some areas.

From Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri in north-central Vietnam, moderate to heavy rain is expected, with very heavy rain in isolated areas.

Hue and Da Nang cities and eastern Quang Ngai Province in the central region will see scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing heavy to very heavy rain.

In southern Vietnam and Lam Dong Province, showers and thunderstorms are forecast in the afternoon and at night, with very heavy rain possible in some areas.

Thunderstorms may bring whirlwinds, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind.