Crippling heat wave descends over Hanoi

At 1 p.m., five weather stations in the capital recorded temperatures at over 37 degrees, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The station in Son Tay District recorded the highest temperature at 39 degrees, followed by the station on Lang Street at 38 degrees.

Eight northern provinces also recorded similarly high temperatures at 37-38 degrees: Son La, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Ha Nam. By Tuesday afternoon, temperatures rose by another 0.5-1 degrees.

On Monday, 20 northern Vietnam localities also experienced blistering temperatures at up to 39 degrees in certain locations.

In central Vietnam, heat waves have been frequent since June. Temperatures from Thanh Hoa to Binh Dinh are typically 37-38 degrees, with some mountainous districts like Nghe An’s Tuong Duong or Ha Tinh’s Huong Khe recording temperatures one degree higher.

Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said heat waves in northern and central Vietnam should subside starting Wednesday. Temperatures in the north are expected to fall below 35 degrees, but heat waves in central Vietnam are expected to last until Friday.

Peak temperatures in the north would fall between the end of June and the first half of July, and high temperatures are expected to last in central Vietnam until the end of July. Humidity would be around 45-65 percent, while temperatures would top 35 degrees for 11-17 hours of the day.