Rain has affected the region over the past two days, with certain areas seeing downpours due to high-altitude winds. However, rainfall is expected to taper off by Friday before the first cold wave begins.
The initial cold front will bring rain and winds to mountainous areas but will not cause a significant drop in temperatures. The second wave, arriving next Tuesday, will be stronger, bringing a noticeable drop in temperatures, especially at night and during the early morning.
The U.S. forecasting service AccuWeather predicts that Hanoi's daytime temperatures will gradually decrease from 32 to 29 degrees Celsius, while nighttime lows could reach 21 degrees. In high-altitude areas like Sa Pa, temperatures may plunge to as low as 14 degrees, and 20 degrees during the day.
Central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh are forecasted to experience heavy rain from Saturday to Sunday. After Tuesday, the rain is expected to spread southward to provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai as the second cold wave takes effect.
In southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands, rain is likely to occur mainly at dusk. Temperatures in the south will hover between 32-34 degrees, while the Central Highlands will see slightly cooler conditions, with highs of 28-31 degrees.
Meteorological agencies predict that the cold waves will peak between December 2024 and January 2025.