Motorists in Hanoi wear protective clothing while outside in the scorching heat last weekend. (Photo: VNA)
Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, Dr Phan Van Tan, former head ofthe Department of Meteorology of the Hanoi University of Sciences, said that ElNino will be the dominant weather phenomenon this year.
“El Nino will occur around June and July, and last until at least the end ofthis year.
“According to our research, usually during years with El Nino, storms willoccur further east, so the number of storms in the East Sea is expected todecrease. This means less rainfall in the mainland, particularly in the centralregion,” said Tan.
He added that the most recent heat wave was unusual, with a record temperatureof 44.1 degrees Celsius last Saturday. It surpassed the highest temperaturerecorded in the same month of 2019, which was 43.4 degrees.
This does not mean that this year’s weather is the hottest ever seen, but thatextreme weather phenomena, such as heatwaves, could be on the rise with moreintensity than the average of previous years, Tan said.
“Overall, the average temperature will be higher. As to when the temperaturewill reach the peak and at what level, it depends on many factors,” he added.
Tan said that in addition to climate change, human impacts “definitely”contribute to the increasing heatwaves, alongside socio-economic developmentfactors.
In Hanoi, as skyscrapers and concrete surface increase, so does the urban heatisland effect, he said.
Therefore, people in major cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City areadvised to refrain from going outside during the hottest hours.
Tan said: “This year, there will be less overall rainfall due to El Nino, butthere might be extremely heavy rain.
“The spike in rainfall in a short period of time can cause flooding and landslidesin mountainous areas,” Tan stressed.
Le Thi Xuan Lan, former deputy head of the forecasting department of thesouthern region’s Hydro-meteorological Station, said: “I have been working as ameteorologist for years, and almost every year there is a time when the weatheris like this. But this year, it is very unusual.”
She added that there is currently a conflict between air masses, which couldlead to extreme weather phenomena.
The hot weather will ease in the immediate future, but it is only temporary.The rain will lower the temperature, but then heatwaves will return.
Lan said: “Starting this week, winds from the southwest will increase, bringingmore rainfall.
“Rain at the beginning of the season is always accompanied by hail, lightningstorms and tornadoes, causing damage to houses and trees.”
Regarding the current hot weather, Lan said that the temperature of 39.4degrees Celsius in southern Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province, is high but not arecord.
Xuan Loc district in Dong Nai province, Dong Phu district and Phuoc Long townin Binh Phuoc province also saw higher temperatures than HCM City.
The central region is expected to see record-breaking heatwaves this year due toclimate change and an intensifying hot depression.
Lan said: “Hot weather is partially due to climate change, but humans are alsoa factor in this temperature increase.
“In urban areas, there are millions of air conditioners, which help cool theindoor air but the heat they release causes a significant rise in theatmosphere’s temperature.
“This is why people can still feel the unbearable heat even at night.”/.
VNA
