Two storms or tropical depressions will appear in the East Sea this May, but they are unlikely to directly affect the mainland, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Earlier, the centre forecast nine or ten storms and tropical depressions will occur in the waters this year, four or five of these will directly hit the Vietnamese mainland.

The rainy season in the Central Highlands and southern regions will start in late May or early June, later than the previous years, it said.

The service also warned localities nationwide of dangerous weather phenomena in May – a transitional period – such as rainstorms, whirlwinds and hailstorms.

Meanwhile, the May average temperature across Vietnam is projected to be 0.5-1 degree Celsius higher than the traditional average.

Average rainfall this month in the north will be 15-30 percent lower than the traditional average, while in the central, Central Highlands and southern regions it will be 20-50 percent lower, the centre said.

VNA