Northern Vietnam suffers record heat before widespread downpours arrive

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecasting department at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that intense heat swept across the north, the central provinces and cities from Thanh Hoa to Hue, and parts of the southern coastal region on Sunday and Monday.

In the northern region, the Red River Delta, particularly Hanoi, is the epicenter of this heatwave, with Lang weather station in Hanoi reaching 39.7 degrees Celsius, and Phu Ly in Ninh Binh Province at 39.3 degrees, both marking record highs for August.

Huong attributed the record-breaking heat in northern Vietnam to three main factors, including a strong western low-pressure system bringing in dry, hot air; upper-level divergence winds from the north to northwest creating clear skies; and hot, dry foehn winds blowing from Thanh Hoa toward the delta.

By 1:00 pm on Monday, humidity levels dropped to just 47-52 percent in Hanoi and surrounding areas, intensifying the dry and uncomfortable conditions.

“This combination of meteorological elements has made the Red River Delta the hottest area during this heatwave,” Huong said.

However, thunderstorms and rain are forecast to sweep across northern Vietnam starting from Tuesday evening, helping bring relief from the heat.

While isolated hot spots in the lowlands may still see temperatures around 35-36 degrees Celsius, the broader heatwave is expected to subside.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, the northern mountainous and midland areas could see moderate to heavy rain with some areas receiving over 150mm, especially in the evening and at night.

This raises the risk of flash floods, landslides in mountainous areas, and urban flooding in low-lying zones.

The north-central areas, including Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, may experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some localized heavy rain.

Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, widespread rainfall is expected to continue across northern Vietnam, especially in the mountainous places, with up to 100mm or more in certain locations.

The national weather agency warned that after prolonged hot and dry conditions, incoming thunderstorms may bring sudden hazards such as lightning, whirlwinds, hail, and strong gusts, urging residents to remain cautious.