A weather radar map shows bands of thunderstorm clouds bringing rain to multiple areas across northern Vietnam. Photo: Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Network
Showers and thunderstorms hit the northwest region overnight Saturday and early Sunday, with varying rainfall amounts recorded, including 33 mm in Lao Cai and 49 mm in Lai Chau.
Radar and satellite data showed that on Sunday morning, many long bands of thunderstorm clouds covering the northern region were moving from the northwest toward the northeast.
At around 10:30 am, the cloud bands brought rain to Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen, Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Ninh Binh, and they were forecast to continue moving toward Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Ninh, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh.
The forecasting center said that on Sunday, northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa Province, and western Nghe An Province would see scattered showers and thunderstorms, with rainfall of 15-30 mm and isolated areas receiving more than 80 mm.
Thunderstorms may be accompanied by whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong winds.
These hazardous conditions could disrupt agricultural production, damage houses and infrastructure, and uproot trees.
Localized heavy rain may also trigger flash floods on small rivers and streams, landslides on steep slopes, and flooding in low-lying areas.
Traffic police direct vehicles and guide traffic to Hung King Temple in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam, in heavy rain on April 19, 2026, as pilgrims travel there to offer incense ahead of Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day (the 10th day of the third lunar month). Photo: Phu Tho Department of Public Security
A quick report from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds in northern and north-central provinces, as well as Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, left one person dead in Thai Nguyen and another missing in Tuyen Quang.
Four people in Lao Cai were injured by hail, and one person in Phu Tho was wounded by a whirlwind.
The severe weather also caused three houses to collapse completely and damaged or tore roofs off more than 5,400 homes, with Thanh Hoa reporting around 3,600 affected houses and Lao Cai more than 1,000.
Fifteen school campuses, one health facility, and 11 auxiliary structures and community houses were damaged, while 23 electricity poles were toppled.
Three motorbikes, four cars, and 18 computers were also damaged.
In agriculture, about 1,667 hectares of rice, flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees were affected, whereas around 1,200 head of poultry were killed.
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