About 12-14 storms could hit the East Sea this year, with around half expected to directly affect Vietnam’s mainland. (Photo: VNA) Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Centre for Hydro-meteorologicalForecasting, told a recent conference that from now until May, it is unlikelythat any storms or tropical depressions would hit the East Sea.
Between August and September, tropical depressions and storms will mostlyaffect the north and north-central regions yet those striking during the periodfrom September until the year’s end would affect the central and south central regions.
Between April and October, the total rainfall will be equivalent to thatrecorded in the corresponding time in the previous years, and would be 10-20percent higher in April, May, August and September.
According to the centre, the wet season may come early to the Central Highlandsand south of Vietnam, in the latter half of April or the first half of May.Meanwhile, flash floods and landslides may strike northern mountainous areassooner than in previous years.
Drought and water shortages are projected for certain areas in the centralprovinces of Nghe An, Ninh Thuan, and Binh Thuan as well as the CentralHighlands in April, which will then expand to all of the central region.
From now until late April, the Mekong Delta is likely to record another threeor four saltwater intrusion episodes, then the phenomenon will begin easing inMay./.
VNA
