According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Lao Cai and Tuyen Quang provinces recorded moderate to heavy rain over the past two days on Thursday afternoon, with up to 191 mm in Lao Cai, 174.8 mm in Lai Chau and 147 mm in Dien Bien.
Soil moisture in parts of the five provinces has exceeded 85 per cent or reached saturation, increasing the likelihood of flash floods along small rivers and streams and landslides on steep slopes, the agency said.
Water levels on major rivers in northern localities remain relatively stable, while smaller mountain rivers are fluctuating below the first warning level.
Rivers across northern Vietnam could rise by 2-5 metres between Thursday night and July 21, with flood peaks on smaller rivers reaching warning levels 2-3. The Thao and Lo rivers and the upper Thai Binh river system could reach warning levels 1-2, with some locations exceeding level 2.
The agency warned of a high risk of flash floods and landslides across the northern mountainous and midland regions, while low-lying riverside areas and urban centres in the Red River Delta face the risk of flooding.
Torrential rain is expected to continue in the northern mountainous and midland regions between July 18 and 19, with rainfall of 40-70 mm and isolated totals exceeding 150 mm. Rainfall across northern Vietnam is forecast to ease from July 24.
Elsewhere, Thanh Hoa to Hue and the south-central coast are expected to remain mostly sunny, with isolated hot spells and evening showers. The Central Highlands and southern Vietnam are forecast to see scattered showers and thunderstorms, with locally heavy rain.
