Below 3 degrees Celsius possible in Vietnamese mountains

Rain may also hit northern Vietnam regions on Saturday, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Temperatures the day after could reach 11-14 degrees at the lowest, with mountainous areas seeing temperatures between 3-10 degrees, the center added.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the center’s weather forecasting department, said the incoming mass of cold air would be the strongest seen this winter, capable of plunging average daytime temperatures to below 13 degrees in not just the mountains, but also the plains.

“By Dec. 19, another mass of cold air is expected to arrive, extending the cold period. There would be clear skies in the morning and at night, creating conditions for the formation of frost,” Huong said.

U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather said Hanoi would see a severe cold wave lasting around five days, with average daytime temperatures below 15 degrees. Sunday would be the coldest day, with temperatures at 11-15 degrees. By Wednesday next week, when the next mass of cold air arrives, temperatures would drop to 9 degrees at the lowest, with daytime temperatures at around 17 degrees.

High-altitude locations like Lao Cai’s Sa Pa would see a severe cold wave starting Dec. 17 that could last for at least 15 days, plunging average daytime temperatures to below 13 degrees. Wednesday next week would be the coldest day during the wave, seeing temperatures between 5-11 degrees.

The mass of cold air would reach the central parts of Vietnam on Saturday as well, bringing rains. Temperatures in localities to the north of the Hai Van Pass, which runs between Hue and Da Nang, would fall to around 13-18 degrees.

Meteorological agencies warned that masses of cold air could bring with them extreme weather patterns, including hail, lightning, tornadoes, floods and landslides. Low temperatures may also affect crops, cattle and poultry.

Within the next month, agencies anticipate that there will be stronger, more frequent masses of cold air.