Severe weather conditions, especially heatwave and storms, are likely to affect the country till October, the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has said.

It said the northern and central regions would be the most affected areas.

At a conference yesterday, Director of the centre Hoang Duc Cuong said the El Nino pattern this year would have a negative impact on natural disasters in the country.

The temperature will increase by one degree Celsius during severe heatwaves. Some areas, such as the northern Hoa Binh Province's Mai Chau District, Son La Province's Phu Yen District and central Nghe An Province's Tuong Duong District, will experience temperatures of 39 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively.

The country will face 25 to 50 per cent rain shortage, compared to the previous year, together with drought and salt intrusion in the central region till mid-September.

There may be severe drought in some districts in the central highland region and southern central provinces.

Nearly 10 storms and low pressures areas were expected to develop offshore, four of which would impact on the mainland, he said.

Frequent flash floods and erosion will be an alarming issue in the northern provinces of Bac Kan, Lai Chau, Yen Bai and Ha Giang, as well as Tuyen Quang.

In the early months of 2015, periods of severe drought occurred in several provinces, but most severely in the southern central provinces, causing losses to local residents.

Dtinews