A cold air wave is hitting northern Vietnam, helping to send early summer temperatures dipping thanks to moderate winds and light showers.

According to the meteorological agency, many places in the Northern and Central regions have experienced scorching temperatures exceeding 40-41 degrees Celsius and will continue to be intense on the 2nd and the 3rd of April.

More comfortable conditions are then expected from April 8 to 14 before hot weather returns.

The northern and central regions of Vietnam are enduring a strong heat wave, with daytime temperatures anticipated to rise to 39°C in some localities on April 1, according to the National Centre for hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

This weather phenomenon is forecast to become more prevalent, reaching its peak around April and May.

A hot spell is heading towards the northern region of Vietnam from west that is to bake the region in the coming days.

In summer, the average temperature will be 0.5-1.5oC higher than the country’s average temperature in previous years. Record hot spells have been predicted for the summer.

The southern region, including HCM City, have recorded the highest temperatures since the beginning of the year’s hot season, with a record temperature of nearly 41 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (March 20).

The lack of precipitation can cause a variety of problems for local communities, including damage to crops and a decline in groundwater levels, in the Central Highlands region.

The prolonged heat waves caused by the El Niño phenomenon are still plaguing the south, and the resultant droughts, land subsidence and saltwater intrusion are affecting people’s lives and agriculture.

The southern region, including HCM City, is expected to face a longer and more intense heat wave this year due to El Niño compared to previous years, according to weather experts.

A new cold spell is forecast to grip northern Vietnam on February 6, which will cause temperatures to drop sharply, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Flights in Noi Bai International Airport (NIA) in Hanoi could not take off or land, due to the unusual thick smog cloaking the capital city on February 2.

Fog blanketed the capital city of Hanoi on February 2 morning, with visibility falling to 10 metres, affecting normal life of Hanoians.

The northern region is forecast to endure more strong cold spells in February which are set to cause temperatures to plunge, with northern mountainous areas likely to also face periods of rain and frost.

Many tourists have visited the peak of Mau Son Mountain in the northern province of Lang Son over recent days as they head to witness frost which has formed at the 1,500 metre-mountain peak.

Chilly weather conditions in Hanoi have caused the number of elderly people and children sent to hospital for respiratory illness increase.

The temperature at Mau Son mountain peak in the northern province of Lang Son continued to sink to minus -1.1 degrees Celsius on the early morning of January 23, with white frost seen at the 1,500 metre-mountain peak.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 23 issued an official dispatch instructing local administrations of northern and north central localities and relevant ministries to take measure to urgently deal with the prolonged and severe cold wave.

Temperatures have tumbled sharply after a strong cold air wave hit northern localities of Vietnam early on January 21, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.