Northern Vietnam to rain as Tet arrives

Vu Van Thang, director of the meteorology-climate research center under the Institute of Hydrology and Meteorology Science and Climate Change, said northern Vietnam would enjoy warm sunny days from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, with temperatures at 19-26 degrees Celsius. Certain mountainous regions will still experience severe cold periods however.

From Feb. 6 to 9, a mass of cold air would come to the north, dropping temperatures in the region and triggering rains at night and in the morning, right as Tet arrives. The plains will see the lowest temperatures at 15-17 degrees, and the highest at 20-23 degrees. During the Lunar New Year’s Eve (Feb. 9), temperatures are expected to be around 23-24 degrees.

Due to its high altitude, the mountainous regions would see the lowest temperatures at 10-16 degrees, and the highest at 20-22 degrees.

Hoang Phuc Lam, vice director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said cold air would affect the north from Feb. 6 to Feb. 12, but it will not be as strong as the ongoing cold wave, meaning there will be no tornadoes or hail. As the air would bring in moisture from the seas, it will trigger light rain and drizzle at night and early morning.

Due to the effects of the cold air, central Vietnam localities will see rain as Tet arrives, which will subside and temperatures will rise as Lunar New Year’s Eve hits. The lowest temperatures during the period would be at around 17 degrees, while the highest would be at around 27 degrees.

Southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands will see some sunny days, with the highest daytime temperatures at above 35 degrees for the eastern area of southern Vietnam. During Tet, HCMC will see a nighttime temperature at around 23 degrees, while daytime temperatures will be around 35-36 degrees.