Northern Vietnam braces for heavy rains, potential floods as cold air mass approaches

The cold air may affect the northeastern region starting Saturday, with further intensification expected by Sunday, impacting the north-central region and parts of the northwestern highlands.

Temperatures across northern Vietnam are forecast to drop to 21-23 degrees Celsius, with mountainous areas dipping below 20 degrees.

In Hanoi, conditions will remain cool with lows between 22-24 degrees Celsius.

Vu Anh Tuan, deputy head at the center’s forecasting department, said that the northern region could see downpours accompanied by thunderstorms through Saturday due to the cold front compressing a low-pressure trough.

Rainfall totals in northeastern provinces could reach 40-100mm, with some areas exceeding 200mm.

In the northwest and Red River Delta, precipitation of 30-70mm is expected, with localized areas seeing more than 120mm.

The north-central region, especially from Thanh Hoa to Nghe An, may experience 30-80mm of rain, with isolated areas reaching over 150mm between the evenings of Friday and Saturday.

Hydrologist Nguyen Tien Kien from the national weather center reported a rapid rise in water levels in the upstream section of the Thao River, warning that floods could develop between Friday and Sunday on the Thao, Lo, and smaller rivers in northern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa.

Water levels may rise by 2-5 meters, with peaks on some rivers expected to surpass alert level 1, although downstream levels should remain below that threshold.

He also warned of high risks of flash floods, landslides, and localized flooding in low-lying areas, especially in the northern mountainous areas and Thanh Hoa.

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Friday issued an emergency directive urging local authorities in northern provinces, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An to implement disaster preparedness and response measures.

The directive emphasizes preventing disruption to leadership and emergency coordination during ongoing administrative restructuring at the local level.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been tasked with ensuring the safety of hydropower dams and working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate dam operations on the Red River system.

The Ministry of Construction will oversee transportation and infrastructure safety, ensuring key roads remain operational and any damage from landslides or floods is promptly addressed.