Cold air, rain to return to northern Vietnam starting Thursday

On Wednesday morning, Hanoi temperatures were recorded at 24 degrees Celsius, with high-altitude areas like Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province recording temperatures of 16 degrees, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

But starting Thursday night, cold air will push rain levels to between 50-100 millimeters over 24 hours. Lightning, hail and strong winds may also be present.

Hanoi temperatures will be between 19-28 degrees starting Thursday, before dropping to 16-20 degrees on Friday and 13-18 degrees Saturday, according to U.S. forecast service AccuWeather. Sa Pa will see temperatures between 6-11 degrees on Saturday, it added.

The Vietnamese forecasting center said starting Friday, the Gulf of Tonkin, the northern part of the South China Sea, and sea regions from Quang Tri in central Vientam to Ca Mau in the south will experience strong winds and rough seas.

The cold air will also affect central Vietnam, with rains anticipated in the region as well as the Central Highlands from Wednesday to Saturday.

Localities from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai are forecast to see rain levels between 200-400 mm. Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa will see rain levels between 150-300 mm, while Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa and Central Highlands recording rain levels between 100-200 mm.

Rivers from Quang Binh to Binh Dinh may see floods from Thursday to Saturday. Flooding and erosion risks are also possible in certain areas from Ha Tinh to Binh Dinh and the Central Highlands, the Center warned.