Northern and central coastal provinces will see highest temperatures at 35-38C on May 17, while in the central mountainous region the mercury is expected to reach nearly 40C.

The hot weather is a result of the foehn effect, caused by a warm low-pressure in the west combined with southwest winds, stated the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The heat is expected to become more intense from May 18-19 with highest temperatures at 36-39C across the northern and central regions.

Temperatures of over 40C are forecast to swelter the northwestern provinces and the mountainous area in the central region.

The number of hours in a day with temperatures above 35C is expected to be between 11-16 hours.

The mercury is expected to drop to around 30C on Monday next week.

How long is scorching heat in Hanoi lasting?

The center’s experts said that as May is still the transition period, there is a dispute between hot and cold waves, so extreme weather may occur such as tornadoes, hail and strong wind in the thunderstorm.

The blazing hot temperatures in Hanoi city, as well as Vietnam’s northwest and central region may last until May 20, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

The current heat wave scorches Hanoi since early morning, with the highest temperature of 35-37 degrees Celsius, it even is expected to surge to 39 degrees Celsius tomorrow.

The NCHMF said that Foehn wind, caused by impact of the southeastern edge of the western hot low-pressure area, is developing and causing hot weather across the northern region, with temperatures ranging from 36 to 39 degrees Celsius, and even 40 in some places, on May 17-19.

From the afternoon and evening of May 20, the northern region can be affected by a Northeast monsoon, so the northern provinces and Thanh Hoa province have moderate or heavy rain, even strong thunderstorms, the NCHMF predicted.

The center’s experts said that as May is still the transition period, there is a dispute between hot and cold wave, so extreme weather may occur such as tornadoes, hail and strong wind in the thunderstorm.

About one more other hot spells will affect the northern and central regions this month, but they will not last long or be too harsh, said the NCHMF.

According to center, this summer heat wave also saw the intensive temperature particularly in the Hanoi, which recorded at approximately 39 degree Celsius on May 16. The central region also experiences blistering heat with the temperatures soaring to nearly 40 degrees in Nam Dong (Thua Thien Hue province) and Hoai Nhon (Binh Dinh province).

Meanwhile, the South of Vietnam is expected to suffer from sizzling hot weather for many days. The ultraviolet index in Ho Chi Minh City will remain at the dangerous levels of 11 and 12, posing a high risk of skin damage, including skin cancer, for people exposed under the sun for a long time.

Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes