Northern region records hottest first weeks in 50 years

Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy head of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said statistics in the first 15 days of 2020 show that the average temperature this year is 4 degrees higher than usual.

The average temperature in the north was 21.2 degrees while the previous years' temperature was 17.3 degrees.

"Even in Hanoi, this is also the hottest weeks yet, higher than the record numbers in the first weeks of January 2010," Lam said.

The average temperatures from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue provinces are also 3-5 degrees higher than usual.

Lam said it was because of El Nino phenomenon with less rain. It is mid-winter yet there have been few cold spells.

According to Lam, in the first Enso phenomenon, will stay mild but will be in a warm cycle. Strong cold spells will occur in late January and February but will not last long.

Less rain is also forecasted for the first six months therefore the water levels in various rivers and lakes in the north will drop low. Since July, the rainfall will increase and end up being higher than in previous years.

Local authorities are warned to prepare for strong winds on the sea due to the cold air and hail or storms during changing months such as March, April and May.

The Mekong Delta has faced the most severe saline intrusion in January. From January 21 to 28, the rivers in the southern region will be affected by high tides and the upstream water from Mekong River to the Mekong Delta will stay low so the salinity near the estuary will reach 4%.

Drought will affect the central coast from June to August in the same severity as the drought from Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa provinces in 2019. Dtinews