Video: Mr. Nguyen Van Huong warns about the upcoming cold spell in the North.

The North is about to welcome the first severe cold spell of the winter of 2023-2024, this is the assessment of Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting on the evening of December 11.

"Around December 16, there will be a strong northeast monsoon affecting our country. From the night of the same day onwards, the impact of the strong northeast monsoon will likely cause widespread cold spells in the northern provinces, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. The lowest temperature in the northern mountainous areas could drop below 10 degrees Celsius, and in the high mountains below 3 degrees Celsius," said Mr. Huong.

Mr. Huong added that around December 16, cold air will start to affect, then on December 18-19, the cold air will strengthen. Northern provinces and cities will switch to a state of little cloud at night and morning in the later period.

With little cloud at night and in the morning, the northern mountainous areas are likely to experience frost and frost, affecting crop growth as well as livestock and poultry grazing.

In addition, the strong cold air mass will cause moderate to heavy rain in the Central region from December 17 onwards, and there will also be some heavy rains in the North.

In addition to cold in the North and rain in the Central region, this strong cold air mass will cause strong winds at sea.

Accordingly, from December 16 onwards, the Gulf of Tonkin will have strong northeast winds of level 6 and 7. The North and the middle of the East Sea will have strong northeast winds of level 6 and 7. Along with that, there will be waves from 3-5m high, in the north there may be waves over 5m high, causing widespread rough seas in most of the Gulf of Tonkin, the Central sea area from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau as well as the northern, central and southern areas of the East Sea, including the sea areas of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa island districts.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that from December 11, 2023 to January 10, 2024, tropical disturbances may still appear in the southern East Sea.

Also during this period, cold air continues to increase in frequency and intensity, especially in the second half of December 2023, there may be a severe cold spell in the North and North Central regions. In the first half of January 2024, severe cold may still occur in this region but it will not last long.

Moderate and heavy rains are also likely to occur in the Central and South Central regions.

Nguyen Hue