Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to lash over North Central Coast and Mid-central region on Monday with extremely heavy rain likely in some places under the influence of a cold front.

The total rainfall amount will be 40mm-80mm in common in the region while more than 100mm of rain could fall in some places.

These bands of precipitation can be very strong and can bring thunderstorms, lightning, high winds, tornadoes and hail in these areas.

National weather forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas, and localized flooding alerts are in place in low-lying and riverside areas.

The cold air poured southward into North Central Coast in early Monday morning, and it is expected to affect some parts of Mid-central region today, the forecasters said.

The cold front will bring rain and cooler temperatures to Mid-central region.

On Monday, the Gulf of Tonkin could see northeasterly wind at level 6, and the gusts reaching levels 7 to 8, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 2m -3,5m.

From Monday morning, May 16, the Northern East Sea (including Hoang Sa Islands) and the offshore areas stretching from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, will see gradually increasing northeasterly winds at levels 6 to 7, and gustiness of level 8, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 2-4m.

On Monday, cloudy skies are expected in the parts from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien-Hue while moderate to heavy rainfall are predicted over these areas during the daytime with very heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms likely in some places.  Maximum temperatures in these areas are expected to hover around 24-27 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperature will be in the range of 20-23 degrees Celsius.

Today expects the sky to remain mostly cloudy over the parts from Da Nang to Binh Thuan. Furthermore, moderate to heavy rains are forecast for the northern part of the region during the daytime with extreme heavy rainfall and scattered thunderstorms likely in some places while there is a chance of scattered rainfall during night hours. Showers with scattered thunderstorms are likely to occur in southern part of the region during afternoon and evening hours with the possibility of very heavy rainfall and thunderstorms at a few places. Temperatures in these areas can expect lows of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius and highs of 28 to 31 degrees Celsius, even above 31 degrees Celsius in some places.

The forecast has indicated the possibility of showers and thunderstorms over Central Highlands during afternoon and evening hours with a chance of moderate to heavy rains at isolated locations. Maximum and minimum temperatures will hover around 27-30 degrees Celsius and 21-24 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds, national forecasters warned.

Viet Nam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging the warning areas, including Da Nang, to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to high winds, tornadoes and hail plus heavy rain which could trigger flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in low-lying and riverside areas.

Focus must be on keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keep local residents timely informed about extreme weather conditions in a bid to keep them safe and protect their properties. In addition, the heed must be paid to help local residents get ready for such weather conditions in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages.

Reporting by Vietnam⁺ - Translating by H.L