From the evening of March 21 to late March 22, moderate to heavy rain swept northern mountainous localities with rainfall typically ranging from 20-40 mm. Some stations recorded higher totals, including 77 mm in Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang), 75 mm in Tan Nam 2 (Tuyen Quang), 61 mm in Bac Ha (Lao Cai) and 56 mm in Ban Lau (Lao Cai).
Overnight, further showers brought an additional 10-30 mm of rain, with localised peaks such as 62 mm in Dong Ha 2 (Tuyen Quang) and 45 mm in Bac Ha.
Lao Cai was the hardest hit, with two people injured, one house collapsed and 783 homes damaged or left without roofs. About 173.2 hectares of crops and fruit trees were also affected.
Lai Chau reported 29 homes damaged and 0.5 hectares of crops affected, while Dien Bien recorded damage to 12 houses.
Local authorities have mobilised forces to support residents and restore normal living conditions.
In Tuyen Quang, a hailstorm and violent gusts of wind occurred early this morning, March 23, ripping roofs off homes and toppling trees. In Tung Vai Commune, hailstones measuring around 1-1.5 cm damaging roofing and crops. Some people sustained minor injuries and were taken for medical checks. Similar damage was reported in Quan Ba Commune.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, March-May marks a seasonal transition in northern Vietnam, when clashing cold and warm, moist air masses often trigger extreme weather, including storms, lightning, hail and strong winds, especially in mountainous areas.
Forecasters warned that an upper-level wind convergence zone could bring further rain to the northern highlands around March 27-28, with a high risk of lightning, hail and strong winds.
