According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, currently, the cold air mass is approaching the northern border. In the North, there is light rain in some places, the common temperature is 19 - 21 degrees C.
Around noon on January 1st, this cold air mass will affect the mountainous provinces of the North; in the afternoon of the same day, it will continue to affect other places in the Northeast, then affect the North Central Coast, Northwest, Central Central Coast and some places in the South Central Coast. On land, the wind will shift to the northeast strongly at level 3, coastal areas at level 4 - 5, with gusts at level 6 in some places.
The Northeast region has rain, scattered showers and thunderstorms in some places; on the night of January 1st, the Northwest region, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An have rain, scattered showers and thunderstorms in some places. In thunderstorms, there is a possibility of tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind.
Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of the Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that the mountainous area in the Northeast region is turning cold. From the evening and night of January 1, 2026, the midlands, plains of the North and North Central regions will turn cold.
From January 2 - 3, 2026, the mountainous and midland areas of the North will be very cold, with severe cold in some places. According to the temperature chart from the meteorological agency, these are also 2 days when the temperature in the North will drop low, which is likely to be the coldest time in this cold air wave.
On January 1st, day and night, the North has the lowest temperature of 13-16 degrees C, mountainous and midland areas 10 - 13 degrees C, high mountainous areas in some places below 9 degrees C. Average temperature 17 - 19 degrees C, mountainous areas 15 - 17 degrees C.
North Central region has the lowest temperature of 14 - 17 degrees C; average temperature of 19 - 21 degrees C.
On January 2nd, day and night, the North has the lowest temperature of 11 - 14 degrees C, mountainous areas 8 - 11 degrees C, high mountainous areas in some places below 7 degrees C. Average temperature 16 - 18 degrees C, mountainous areas 13 - 15 degrees C.
North Central region has the lowest temperature of 13 - 16 degrees C; average temperature of 17 - 19 degrees C.
The lowest temperature in this cold air wave in the North is commonly 11-14 degrees Celsius, mountainous and midland areas 8-11 degrees Celsius, high mountainous areas in some places below 7 degrees Celsius; North Central region commonly 13-16 degrees Celsius.
Severe cold and harmful cold weather may affect livestock and poultry; affecting the growth and development of crops.
Hanoi area in the afternoon and night of January 1 has rain, showers; from the evening and night of January 1, the weather turns cold. The lowest temperature in this cold air wave is commonly 12 - 14 degrees C.
According to Mr. Huong, in the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang city, the eastern provinces from Quang Ngai to Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa from near the morning of January 2 - 3, 2026, it is forecast to have rain, showers, locally moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms due to the influence of cold air. In thunderstorms, there is a possibility of tornadoes, lightning, stone rain and strong gusts of wind.
Localized heavy rains can cause flooding in low-lying areas; flash floods on small rivers and streams; landslides on slopes; heavy rains in a short time cause flooding in urban areas and industrial parks.
The Head of the Weather Forecast Department also said that the average temperature in January 2026 is about 0.5 - 1 degree Celsius higher than the multi-year average.
The number of days of severe cold and harmful cold in January 2026 is likely to be less than the average of many years. For example, in January in Hanoi, there are on average about 7 - 11 days of severe cold and harmful cold, while January 2026 has about 5 - 7 days" - Mr. Huong provided information forecasting the weather trend for January.
