The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that on July 22, the northern mountainous region saw scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some areas experiencing heavy to very heavy rain. Rainfall recorded from 7 am to 8 pm exceeded 70mm in some places, including 105.4mm at Yen Binh station in Lao Cai Province, 99.6mm at Thuong Minh station in Thai Nguyen Province and 94.6mm at Giap Trung station in Tuyen Quang Province.
Forecasts for the evening of July 22 through July 23 show scattered showers and thunderstorms across northern Vietnam, with rainfall of 10-30mm and isolated areas receiving more than 80mm, mainly at night and in the morning.
Northern Vietnam is expected to see heavy rain over the next two days (Photo: Son Nguyen).
Nguyen Thi Hue, a forecaster at the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that from late afternoon and overnight on July 23 until July 25, northern provinces and cities were likely to face a spell of widespread heavy rain, with total rainfall of about 70-150mm and isolated areas seeing more than 300mm.
According to Hue, the northern mountainous and midland areas are expected to receive 50-100mm of rain from late afternoon and overnight on July 23 until July 24, with some places topping 200mm. Rainfall in the northern delta is forecast to be lower, generally 30-70mm, though some areas could record more than 150mm.
From the night of July 24 to July 25, northern Vietnam is expected to continue seeing moderate to heavy rain, with total rainfall generally at 20-50mm and some places exceeding 100mm.
The expert warned that thunderstorms could bring extreme weather such as whirlwinds, lightning and strong gusts, as well as localised downpours of more than 100mm within three hours.
The meteorological agency also warned of flash floods, landslides and ground subsidence on slopes and along small streams in a series of Wards and Communes in provinces including Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Phu Tho, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang and Thai Nguyen.
As for the heat, the agency said that on July 23, areas from Nghe An to Danang and the eastern parts of provinces from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak would continue to experience hot weather, with some places seeing severe heat above 38 degrees Celsius. From July 24, the heat in central Vietnam is expected to ease gradually.
Other regions are forecast to have isolated showers and thunderstorms in the late afternoon and at night, with some places likely to see heavy rain.
The centre also said a low-pressure area north of the Philippines could strengthen into a tropical depression on July 23 and is highly likely to intensify into a storm around July 24-25, becoming the second storm of the season.
After strengthening into a storm, it may move into the north-eastern part of the northern East Sea around July 25-26.
