In recent days, the North and Central regions have been experiencing a widespread heat wave with particularly intense intensity. Right from the early morning, people on the streets felt suffocated and their skin burned.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has provided analysis and opinions on this heat wave.
Sir, although it is not yet the peak hot month, strong heat has been recorded. Is this heat wave unusual?
- This is the 2nd heat wave of May 2026. Regarding the time of this heat wave in the North, there is nothing unusual. However, this is also a strong heat wave, lasting with the highest daily temperature commonly 37-39 degrees Celsius, with some places above 40 degrees Celsius.
The prolonged period of high temperatures during the day (from 8-9 am to 7 pm) created a feeling of stuffiness and suffocation. Due to the impact of foehn wind, the air is dry and hot, with strong heat radiation.
The intensity of this heat wave is longer and more intense than the heat wave that occurred in the period from May 13-16 and is one of the 3 hottest heat waves that occurred in May from 2021 to now.
Many places recorded that the actual outdoor temperature is much higher than the forecast temperature. How do you assess this phenomenon?
- First of all, we affirm that the temperature in the forecast bulletins is still as true as it is in reality.
However, there is one point that everyone needs to pay attention to, which is that the temperature in meteorological reports is the air temperature measured in standard conditions. The thermometer is placed in a meteorological tent, about 2m above the ground, with a roof and natural ventilation.
Meanwhile, the actual outdoor temperature that people feel is often affected by many other factors. Especially in urban areas, asphalt roads, concrete, corrugated iron roofs or metal surfaces absorb and reflect heat strongly, causing surface temperatures to be a few degrees, even up to ten degrees higher than air temperatures.
Therefore, in hot weather forecast bulletins, we always pay attention to temperature differences due to concrete and asphalt road conditions to help people better understand the actual harshness of hot weather, proactively adjust outdoor living and working plans and implement health protection measures, limit the risk of heat shock, water loss and adverse effects caused by high temperatures.
What is the temperature forecast for the coming days and when will the hot weather likely end, sir?
- For different areas, the hot time as well as the intensity of the heat are significantly different. For the northern provinces and Hanoi capital, this widespread hot spell will last continuously until around May 27, with the highest temperature in the day commonly in the range of 36 - 39 degrees Celsius, in some places above 39 degrees Celsius. From after May 27, rain and hot sun will gradually decrease in the North.
In the Central region, from now until May 28, in the area from Thanh Hoa to Da Nang city and eastern Quang Ngai province, there will be intense and especially intense heat, with the highest temperature commonly 38 - 40 degrees Celsius, in some places above 40 degrees Celsius.
The eastern region of provinces from Gia Lai to Lam Dong has hot and intense heat, especially intense in some places with the highest temperature commonly 36 - 38 degrees C, in some places above 40 degrees C. From May 29, the hot weather in the Central region tends to gradually decrease.
Thank you very much, sir!
