The central region is at high risk of drought from March to May, the remaining months of this dry season. (Photo: baoquangngai.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The central region is at high risk ofdrought from March to May, the remaining months of this dry season, said DeputyDirector of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting Vu Duc Longsaid on March 9.
Due to impacts of El Niño SouthernOscillation (ENSO),the average temperature nationwide is likely to increase by 0.5-1.5 degreeCelsius, according to the official.
Water levels in rivers in the central and Central Highlandsregions are forecast to be 35 – 70 percent below the average recorded inprevious years, and even 80 percent down in some areas.
Central Vietnam will likely suffer drought in the next two months,and saline intrusion in regional estuaries will occur earlier and on a largerscale.
Itis very likely that Thanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, the Central Highlandsand the southeastern region will be in the grip of drought from March to May,while the central coast is facing drought and saltwater intrusion from June toAugust, which will be more severe than the last dry season.
Volumetricflow rates of rivers in the central and Central Highlands regions are predictedto be 40 – 80 percent lower than in previous years, and possibly down 80 percentin the Ca River (Nghe An).
Damsin the central region will be functioning at 10 – 47 percent below capacity,while medium and large hydropower reservoirs in the central and CentralHighlands regions will fall 10 – 66 percent below capacity./.
VNA
