A woman wears protective clothes to avoid the sunlight in Hanoi. — VNA/VNS Photo

The heat wave could be prolonged in the northwest and the western mountainous areas of the north-central, central and south central provinces.

Starting today (Thursday), the heat wave will expand to north-western and central provinces with the highest temperatures rising from 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.

In the mountainous areas of central provinces, the temperatures will be up to 38-39 degrees Celsius, with a maximum temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius in some places.

The northern midland provinces are seeing sunshine and temperatures of about 34-35 degrees Celsius. The temperature is over 35 degrees from 12am to 4pm.

In the southern provinces, the highest temperature is from 35-36 degrees Celsius, with temperatures over 35 degrees from 12am to 4pm.

The NCHF added that the average temperature for the whole country in May this year would be 0.5 to one degree centigrade higher than the same period last year.

Flash flood warnings have also been issued for many localities in the northern region, particularly the northwestern localities.

Meanwhile, some localities in the south-central and Central Highlands regions could face droughts.

VNS