Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned of bitter cold temperatures across Nothern and Central Viet Nam as the intense cold tightened its grip in the Northern region on Friday afternoon.

The national weather forecasters said that a cold front ushered a cold airmass into the Northern region on Friday afternoon. The strong cold front will allow temperatures to drop significantly in the warning areas.

The cold air is expected to pour southward into North Central Coast thereafter, and it is predicted to affect Mid-central region later, the forecasters said.

By the coastal areas they will see high winds at levels 4 to 5, and gustiness of levels 6 to 7 and farther inland you could find gradually increasing northeasterly wind at levels 3 to 4. The cooler weather is expected to work in the parts from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang.

The cold wave conditions intensify as the mercury is expected to drop further during the daytime and night hours on Saturdayin Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces with the minimum temperature likely to fall  14-16 degrees Celsius, and even 12 to 14 degrees Celsius in their mountainous areas.

Thua Thien- Hue Province, and Da Nang along with Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces will also reel under intense cold wave as the minimum temperature is likely to settle in the range from 15-17 degrees Celsius in Thua Thien- Hue Province, and even 13 to 15 degrees Celsius in its mountainous areas, as well as to touch from 17-19 degrees Celsius in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces.

The strong cold front will be at its most severe from Sunday and the cold wave conditions will prevail until next Friday, December 23. Freezing temperatures are forecast to strike the parts from Quang Binh to Thua Thien Hue as temperatures are set to dip 12 to 15 degrees Celsius in their delta regions, and 10 to 12 degrees Celsius in their mountainous areas. Temperatures in the parts from Da Nang to Quang Ngai are expected to fall as low as 16-18 degrees Celsius in their delta regions, and even 14 to 16 degrees Celsius in their mountainous areas.

From Friday night, strong northeasterly winds at level 7, and gustiness of levels 8 to 9, as well as rough seas with waves as high as 2-4m are in forecast for the open waters off the Quang Binh - Quang Ngai coast, including Da Nang. The waters of the Hoang Sa Islands could experience strong northeasterly winds at level 7, sometimes level 8, and the gusts reaching level 10, as well rough seas with waves as high 4-6m.

Moderate rains with localised heavy to very heavy falls are likely over the parts from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, from Friday night through Saturday night, national forecasters said.

The rain activity is expected to gradually decline from Sunday, December 18.

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.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L