This afternoon, March 27, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting updated information forecasting the upcoming heat wave.
Accordingly, from about March 30 - 31, the Northwest region and from Thanh Hoa to Hue city are likely to experience a widespread heat wave, with intense heat in some places with the highest daily temperature commonly 35 - 37 degrees, locally over 38 degrees C.
On the 31st, hot weather is likely to expand to the Northern Delta region with the highest daily temperature commonly 35 - 36 degrees C, locally above 36 degrees C.
From about February 1-2, the heat will gradually subside in the Northern region and from Thanh Hoa to Hue city.
The meteorological agency warns that the level of natural disaster risk due to hot weather is level 1. Due to the impact of hot weather combined with low humidity in the air, there is a risk of fires and explosions in residential areas due to increased electricity demand and the risk of forest fires. Hot weather can also cause dehydration, exhaustion, and heat stroke for the human body when exposed to high temperatures for a long time.
According to the meteorological agency, on average for many years, the first heat wave usually appears on the 2nd week of April. Thus, the first heat wave of this year comes about 10-15 days earlier. This is a sign that the weather has complex developments right from the beginning of summer. With temperatures suddenly changing from cool to hot, the body is likely to find it difficult to adapt immediately.
People should avoid working outdoors and being exposed to direct sunlight for too long during peak heat hours from 12 pm to 4 pm daily; pay special attention to the health of the elderly and children in the early days of the hot season.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Huong - Head of Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, ENSO conditions are likely to change phases and tilt hot from the second half of the year along with the impact of climate change, summer heat in 2026 is forecast to be longer and increase in intensity compared to the average of many years, even more intense than in 2025.
According to the Head of the Weather Forecast Department, from April 2026, hot weather will increase in intensity and expand the operating area.
From the end of May 2026, hot weather will gradually expand to the entire Northern and Central regions, intensity will increase sharply and maintain peak periods in June - August 2026. From around September 2026, hot weather will tend to gradually decrease but there may still be unusually late hot spells" - Mr. Huong said.
Mr. Huong said that, overall, extreme heat is no longer a strange phenomenon but is becoming an increasingly clear characteristic in the context of climate change and ENSO shifting to a hot phase.
