This year’s winter is showing signs of being drier, with continuous warm sunshine and less rain than previous years. Up to this point, there has not been a very strong cold spell that causes prolonged cold. People are interested in the forecast of cold air developments for the rest of the winter.
Reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper had an interview with Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting about this issue.
Sir, how do you evaluate the weather developments since the beginning of winter?
- In December 2024 (the first month of the main winter period), there were 3 cold spells on December 6, December 11 and December 27. Notably, the cold spell on December 11 caused widespread severe cold in the Northern region on December 14-15. Thus, the time of the first severe cold spell in the Northern region is equivalent to the average of many years.
In January 2025, on January 9, a cold spell appeared, causing widespread severe cold in the Northern and North Central regions on January 12-13 (Cao Bang, Lang Son and highland areas were severely cold from January 9-13). The lowest temperature in this cold spell in the Northern and North Central regions was generally below 10 degrees Celsius, in highland areas it was below 5 degrees Celsius such as: Sa Pa (Lao Cai) 3.2 degrees Celsius, Bac Ha (Lao Cai) 1.4 degrees Celsius, Dong Van (Ha Giang) 0.8 degrees Celsius, Trung Khanh (Cao Bang) 0.9 degrees Celsius, Dinh Lap (Lang Son) 0.3 degrees Celsius....
What is the forecast for the cold air from now until the end of winter? Is there a possibility of prolonged cold spells, sir?
- Severe cold is forecasted to continue to occur in January - March 2025 at a level equivalent to the average of many years in the same period and more than in winter 2024. Beware of the appearance of strong cold air masses causing severe cold over a wide area lasting about 5 - 7 days. The cold period is likely to be concentrated from late January, February and the first half of March. During these cold spells, beware of the possibility of frost and frost in the northern mountainous areas.
Sir, since the beginning of winter, the cold and dry weather has been prolonged. When is the forecast for the transition to the cold and humid period with light rain and drizzle?
- The cold and humid process causing light rain and drizzle is related to the impact of large-scale circulation; cold air masses from China move down and deviate to the sea, creating a good humidity field in the Northern region. The cold and humid period usually occurs from mid-February to early March in the Northern region, mainly concentrated in the Northeast region, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.
Thank you very much!
