Northern Vietnam temperatures plunge down as low as 5 degrees

The peak of the Mau Son mountain in Lang Son, located 1,600 m above sea level, recorded a temperatures at 5 degrees on Sunday, while other regions in Ha Giang, Vinh Phuc and Cao Bang recorded temperatures at 8-9 degrees.

In Hanoi, weather stations recorded temperatures at around 15-16 degrees.

The cold will continue to drape over northern Vietnam until Dec. 10, before temperatures will gradually rise, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorologcial Forecasting. By Dec. 12, a new cold wave will make temperatures go down once more.

U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather anticipated Hanoi's temperatures to be at 16-20 degrees on Sunday, before gradually rising to 21-26 degrees by Tuesday, and falling down to 10-17 degrees towards the weekends. High-altitude locations like Lao Cai's Sa Pa will record temperatures gradually rising to 12-17 degrees next week.

The cold has also impacted central Vietnam regions, bringing temperatures in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An down to 16-17 degrees. As the mass of cold air weekends, temperatures in the central regions are expected to gradually rise on Dec. 11 and 12, with rains lessening.

Starting December 12 however, rain will return to central Vietnam. Temperatures from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh would be around 20 degrees from Dec. 12 to 15, while areas from Quang Binh to Thua Thien-Hue will record temperatures below 23 degrees.

Southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands will see cloudy skies at night and in the morning by December 10. The cold air may trigger rain in the region from Dec. 11 to 14. The Central Highlands will record temperatures below 26 degrees, while the southern region will record temperatures at 29-32 degrees.

Last month, four cold waves have been recorded in Vietnam, wit temperatures plunging down as low as 7 degrees in certain northern areas. More cold waves will be expected this month.