Central meteorologist forecasts cold snap

The national weather forecaster has predicted a 5-10 degree cold spell for the north over the weekend, with continuing whirlwinds and hail in northern central provinces, and an early rainy season for the south.

The temperature may be lower in some mountainous provinces such as Lao Cai, Lang Son and Lai Chau, Head of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Bui Minh Tang said. The weather will warm up on Tuesday but the cold will return March 28-29, he said. Northern central provinces will suffer whirlwinds and hail between now and May, Tang forecast. From March 17-19, whirlwinds and hail unroofed 40 houses and damaged 30 hectares of crops in Nghe An Province. 131 houses also lost roofs in Quang Binh Province on March 18-19. Tang also said the rainy season would begin in the south and central highlands, sooner than normal. The rainy season usually starts in late-April or early May and ends in October. Reported by Quang Duan