According to the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Station, during strong El Nino years, the weather in the South often has many extreme developments. The average temperature is about 0.5-2 degrees Celsius higher than the multi-year average (MPA), even in some places 2-3 degrees Celsius higher.
In this year's rainy season, El Nino caused the number of hot days to increase, with many days with temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius even during the rainy season. Total rainfall is generally 10-30% lower than the TBNN, with some localities experiencing a shortage of up to 40%. The number of rainy days has decreased significantly, and there have also been many "Ba Chan" droughts (mid-rain season droughts), causing water shortages.
This year's rainy season is forecast to end 2-4 weeks earlier than the multi-year average. Notably, although rainfall has decreased, extreme rains may still occur with rainfall from 100 mm/24 hours or more, even exceeding 200 mm in some places.
In the dry season, it is predicted that El Nino will cause the water level of the Mekong River to drop low, evaporate strongly, leading to severe drought.
Therefore, people need to convert the crop structure to be drought-tolerant, apply water-saving irrigation techniques (drop irrigation, sprinkler irrigation). For daily life, it is necessary to save clean water to the maximum. Localities need to have plans to provide backup water for areas with difficult fresh water sources.
