Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting continues to warn residents about high temperatures across Northern and Central Viet Nam as intense, unrelenting hot weather continues to plague these areas with temperatures expected to soar above 40 degrees Celcius in some places.

Scorching heat compounded by suffocating humidity is expected to persist across Northern and Central Viet Nam until May 23.

Heat wave conditions will persist over the Northern and Central regions until May 23. Photo: TTXVN

The national weather service issues intense heat watches and warnings for Northern and Central regions from Saturday, May 20, and urges people in the warning areas to watch out for sunburn and heat exhaustion.

Already, temperatures as high as upper 39 degrees Celsius scorched isolated localitions of  the Northern region and the parts from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen, including Da Nang, at 1:00pm on Friday, May 19. Extreme heat baked Hoi Xuan (Thanh Hoa Province), and Tay Hieu (Nghe An Province) with maximum temperatures recorded at 40 degrees Celsius and 40.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Heat and humidity are in forecast for the northern region through the weekend from May 20 into May 21 with the maximum temperatures expected to touch 35-38 degrees Celsius, and even above 39 degree Celsius at isolated places while the average humidity level in the region will be between 45% and 60%.

Extreme heat warnings are in place Saturday into next Tuesday, May 23 for the parts from Thanh Hoa to Phu Yen, including Da Nang. Excessive heat is expected to continue to scorch these areas where daytime temperatures will hover around 37-40 degree Celsius, and even above 40 degree Celsius in some places. Lowest humidity is likely to record at 35-50%.

The weather for Thursday into next Tuesday, May 23, in Da Nang remains hot with temperatures in highs of 37-39 degree Celsius. The city will sizzle under high day temperatures during the said period, as the mercury is likely to hover over 39 degrees Celsius at several places.

The Da Nang Forest Protection Department issued forest fire warnings at alert level 3 on Friday as scorching heat wave continues to engulf the city until next Tuesday, May 23.

The Department is urging authorities at local level to take the appropriate measures to control and prevent forest fires. Importance should be attached to taking action to stop illegal burning of vegetation in the face of rising wildfire risk associated with hot weather.

Special attention should be paid to launching awareness raising campaigns to educate local residents living near forests about unprecedented wildfire risks due to hot weather in order to engage them and relevant local units in preventing wildfires. High priority should be given to making the resources available in order to ensure the rapid and efficient response to wildfires.

At the same time, the functional forces should enhance monitoring and inspection of plantation forest owners for their observance of the city’s rules, regulations, and restrictions in order to ensure effective prevention and minimize damage and loss from wildfires. Focus should be paid on closely working with authorities of eco-tourism sites across the city to monitor and remind visitors to comply with fire safety regulations while visiting the forest. Heed should be paid to quickly detecting and detering violations of fire safety regulations through inspections and enforcement actions.

Surging electricity demand from local residents due to intense heat poses an increased fire or explosion risk in residential areas in the Northern and Central regions. In addition, these regions will see the greatest increase in wildfire risk in Viet Nam due to the hot and dry weather, the national weather forecasters have warned.

Prolonged exposure to heat can cause cramping, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death. Residents in the warning areas are advised to stay indoors, avoid strenuous activities and stay hydrated with lots of fluids.

The country will face a harsh summer this year as it could experience widespread heat waves with above-normal maximum temperatures, national forecasters said.

According to the national weather service, heat wave conditions are very likely in the Northern region from May to the first half of August, over the Central region from May into late August, and the Southern region until mid-May.

The national forecasters said extreme heat will grip the Northern region from June into July, and the Central region from June until early August.

Most notably, across the country, heat events in this year are more extreme and longer than previous year. A heat wave can last 7 consecutive days nationwide but the duration of this event will be more than 7 days in the Central region.

Highs of 37 - 38 degrees Celsius are expected in the Northern region while maximum temperatures of 37 - 39 degrees Celsius are very likely in the Central region, and even 40 -42 degrees Celsius at isolated places, during an extreme heat event. These regions will experience their hottest day of the year during the said period as temperatures could reach highs of 40 - 42 degrees Celsius, and even upper 42 degrees Celsius.

Reporting by BAO TIN TUC – THIEN NGUYEN - Translating by H.L