VietNamNet Bridge – Northern parts of the country were expected to be warmer than previous winters this year due to the effects of El Nino, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The centre said average temperatures during this winter were predicted to be 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius higher than previous winters.

Experts said that El Nino was characterised by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific. El Nino is an oscillation of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific that has a severe effect on weather around the globe.

Hoang Duc Cuong, director of the centre, said it could be the strongest El Nino since 2015.

Due to the El Nino's affects, the number of tropical storms hitting the East Sea and directly causing damage to the mainland would be less than normal, he said.

It forecast that 2-3 tropical storms would reach the East Sea and directly affect the mainland from now until the end of this year, he said.

Only one tropical storm has hit the East Sea and damaged the mainland in 2015.

In 2013, nine tropical storms attacked the East Sea and caused damage to the mainland. In 2014, there were three, including Super Tropical Storm Ramasun.

VNS