Downpours chasing away northern Vietnam heat waves

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting's weather forecast department said on Friday that the north's streaks of hot sunny days would end once the rains are brought about by the impacts of a low-pressure area moving down from China.

Rains are expected to mostly lash the mountains and midlands of the far north, especially the provinces Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Bac Kan and Tuyen Quang, where 150mm is expected.

The northern plains are expected to experience overnight rain levels of 20-40 mm on average, with some areas reaching up to 70 mm.

Meteorologists have predicted the lowland rains sill weaken significantly on Sunday, but not much let up is expected in the northern mountains and midlands.

When it rains heavily in the mountains and the midlands, floods and the risks of landslides are common, according to meteorologists.

Additionally, high rain levels within short periods of time may cause inundations in urban areas, experts predicted.

Northern Vietnam went through periods of heavy downpours from June 5 to 9, where several rain level records were broken. The Phu Lien weather station in Hai Phong recorded rain levels at 228 mm on June 9, breaking a 450-year record of 167 mm.

Quang Ninh’s Bai Chay saw rain levels of 307mm, breaking 2006's record by over 60 mm.

Widespread inundations have already occurred in the far northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen. Three people have died in the floods and subsequent landslides, while over 2,400 houses were inundated and over 2,500 ha of crops were ruined, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention.