March brings drizzle and fog to the north, early heat to the south. Cold spells are forecast to concentrate in the northern mountains, while the southeast may see expanding heat toward month’s end.

Cool air continues to shape northern weather patterns, with widespread humidity and light rain. Meanwhile, southern provinces brace for prolonged sunshine and rising temperatures.

Meteorologists expect March to mirror seasonal norms in temperature nationwide, but with notable contrasts: damp, misty days in the north and mounting heat across the south.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reports that February saw three cold air surges nationwide. The most significant, beginning February 8, triggered widespread severe cold on February 9 across northern provinces and Thanh Hoa. In Cao Bang and Lang Son, severe and damaging cold persisted from February 8 to 12.

The lowest temperatures recorded in the north generally ranged from 10 to 12 degrees Celsius, dropping to 7 to 9 degrees in mountainous areas. High-altitude locations fell even further, with Mau Son in Lang Son plunging to 3.5 degrees Celsius. Thanh Hoa recorded lows of 13 to 14 degrees.

Throughout February, northern Vietnam experienced numerous days of light rain and drizzle, particularly during February 7-13 and February 19-26. On February 8 and 23, some areas reported moderate to heavy rainfall.

During the Lunar New Year holiday of Tet Binh Ngo, the north enjoyed warm sunshine.

Provinces from Thanh Hoa to Da Nang and the south-central coast experienced four rounds of rainfall, while the Central Highlands and southern regions saw two. The second spell, from February 26 to 28, brought very heavy rain in some locations, with several monitoring stations recording daily rainfall totals at or above historical highs for the same period.

Notably, localized heat first appeared in the southeastern region on February 8-9, when temperatures peaked at 35 degrees Celsius. A more extensive heatwave followed from February 16 to 20, with maximum temperatures reaching 37 to 37.5 degrees.

According to meteorological experts, this marked the first widespread heatwave of 2026, arriving earlier than the multi-year average.

Average temperatures nationwide in February were also higher than usual. Northern provinces and the stretch from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai recorded temperatures 1.5 to 2.5 degrees Celsius above the multi-year average, with some areas exceeding it by 3 to 4 degrees.

“At several meteorological stations, the highest daily maximum temperatures equaled or surpassed historical records for the same period, including at Song Ma in Son La and in Tay Ninh province,” the agency noted.

Total monthly rainfall across the country was generally near or above the multi-year average by 10 to 50 millimeters, with some areas exceeding it by 60 to 100 millimeters. Several stations also reported monthly totals at or above historical records.

Looking ahead to March, the forecasting center expects nationwide average temperatures to remain close to the multi-year norm.

Total rainfall in the north, from Thanh Hoa to Hue, and along the south-central coast is forecast to exceed the seasonal average by 10 to 30 millimeters, with some places seeing more than 30 millimeters. The Central Highlands and the south are expected to record rainfall near average levels.

Storms or tropical depressions are unlikely to form in the East Sea during March. Historically, the average number for this period is 0.2 systems, and none typically make landfall in Vietnam.

Cold air masses are forecast to continue affecting the country this month, though with a tendency to shift eastward. Severe and damaging cold is expected to concentrate in the first half of March, mainly in the northern mountainous region.

Light rain, drizzle and fog are likely to persist in northeastern provinces and parts of the north-central region during the forecast period, the agency emphasized.

According to the Northern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, Hanoi is expected to be influenced by three to four reinforcing cold air spells this month. However, they are not anticipated to be strong enough to cause widespread severe cold. The first cold spell is forecast to begin around the night of March 2-3, bringing showers before temperatures turn cooler from the night of March 3.

Overall, the capital’s dominant weather pattern in March will feature light rain, drizzle, fog and high humidity, lasting between eight and 15 days. Total rainfall is forecast to exceed the multi-year average by about 15 to 30 millimeters, compared with the typical 50.3 to 56.6 millimeters.

Elsewhere, northern provinces, the stretch from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai, and eastern parts of Gia Lai and Dak Lak may experience several widespread rainfall events. The Central Highlands and southern regions could also see unseasonal showers on some days.

Heat is expected to persist in the southeastern region and may expand into the Mekong Delta toward the end of March.

Amid increasingly complex weather patterns driven by climate change, authorities have urged local governments and residents to closely monitor short-term hydro-meteorological forecasts and warnings, issued one to three days in advance, to adjust production plans and ensure safety.

Bao Anh