Hot weather is forecast to continue in northern and central
regions over the next few days with temperatures topping nearly 38 degrees
Celsius, according to the National Hydro-meteorological Forecast Centre.

Northern and central provinces started to experience hot weather from May 7 with
the highest temperatures ranging from between 32-37 degree Celsius.

“This is the first hot spell of the year, which has come later than usual and is
not as severe as the hot spells of last year,” said the centre’s deputy director
Le Thanh Hai.

“The regions are forecast to experience about six or seven hot spells this year,
but the heat wave will be less severe than previous years as a result of La Nina
phenomenon,” he added.

The hot weather is expected to drop to between 27-30 degrees Celsius in the
middle of this week as a result of a monsoon spell from China, he said.

“The monsoon will cause heavy shower in some areas,” Hai said.

“However, the next hot spells are forecast to hit northern and central regions
in the next two months resulting from a strong foehn wind in the low pressure
area.”

Foehn winds are caused by a rapid subsidence of moisture in the air after
crossing mountain ranges, where moisture condenses, leaving a severe, dry wind,
he explained.

“It is very hot and dry,” he stressed.

Hot weather is expected to last until August.

Last year, the regions experienced two record severe hot spells in mid-June and
July with temperatures topping more than 45 degree Celsius.

Meanwhile, Aere, the first tropical storm hitting the East Sea this year, was
positioned over the south-east of Philippine’s Luzon Island at 7am on May 9 with
wind gusts of between 75-88km per hour, according to the forecast centre.

The storm is expected to cause rough seas and strong winds in the north-eastern
region of the East-Sea.

The Central Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention and Control has
urged provincial authorities from Quang Ninh to Phu Yen to inform vessels
operating in the East Sea of the position and progress of the storm.

They are asked to keep a close watch on the progress of the storm and prepare
rescue forces, vehicles and equipment to be ready to cope with emergency cases.

The Border Guard High Command reported that 44 vessels with 539 crew from the
central coastal province of Quang Ngai that are operating off the Hoang Sa (Paracel
Islands) have received storm warnings.

VietNamNet/VNA