This year's severe cold spell starts from January 20th and ends on February 3rd, 2026 before transitioning to the spring spell.
On January 19, the China National Meteorological Center still maintained a yellow warning - the third highest level after red and orange - about severe cold spells, blizzards and freezing conditions, warning that the current strong temperature drop has entered its most intense phase.
Temperatures are forecast to drop from 6 to 10 degrees Celsius in 3 days in the Hoang Hoai area in central and eastern China.
Some areas in southern China and Guizhou province may witness temperatures dropping from 10 to 14 degrees Celsius.
Heavy snowfall and ice rain occurred in Henan, Shaanxi, Anhui, Hubei and Hunan provinces. The western area of Hunan and the eastern area of Guizhou recorded accumulated ice rain from 4 to 6mm.
By the morning of January 21, the highest daytime temperature in the provincial capitals, including Truong Sa (Hunan), Nanchang (Jiangxi) and Hangzhou (Zhejiang), fluctuated around 0 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in most southern regions are expected to gradually increase again starting from January 23.
The meteorological agency warns that this cold spell is characterized by sudden temperature drops and widespread impact, in which many provinces experience rapid transitions between rain, ice and snow.
To cope, many provinces and cities have announced the temporary closure of schools and traffic control. In Anhui, some areas of Bo Chau, To Chau and Phuc Duong have temporarily suspended classes at primary and kindergartens on January 19-20. High schools are encouraged to be arranged based on local weather conditions.
The city of Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, has ordered a 2-day temporary school suspension for all primary, secondary and kindergartens, starting from January 19.
Meanwhile, according to the weather forecast of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting of Vietnam, on January 21, cold air has affected most places in the Northeast region.
In the Northeast region, there will be scattered rain; temperatures will decrease by 3-6 degrees Celsius. The Gulf of Tonkin will have strong northeast winds of level 6. The Northern region, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An will have scattered rain.
On the night of January 21, this cold air mass continued to affect other places in the Northeast, North Central and Northwest regions, then affecting the Central Central region. On land, northeast wind level 2-3, coastal areas level 3-4.
In the Northern region, from January 21st to 23rd, it will be very cold, with severe cold in mountainous areas; North Central region will turn cold.
Lowest temperature in this cold air wave: Northern region commonly 11-14 degrees C, mountainous areas 8-11 degrees C, high mountainous areas in some places below 6 degrees C; North Central region commonly 13-16 degrees C.
Hanoi weather: Rain on January 21st day and night; from January 21st to around January 23rd, it will be very cold. The lowest temperature is commonly 11-14 degrees C.
