Rare June cold spell hits northern Vietnam, bringing heavy rain and cooler temperatures

Northern Vietnam is bracing for a rare cold spell in early June, with temperatures expected to plummet by up to 7 degrees Celsius. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that a mass of cold air from the north is moving towards the country, set to affect the northern region by Friday evening and night.

This early June cold snap is a highly unusual event. Data from 1979 to 2025 shows an average of only 0.53 cold spells per year in June. Since 1991, the number has dropped to an average of 0.2 per year. Notably, there have been no recorded cold spells in June between 2014 and 2025, a period of 12 years. Experts suggest this rarity is linked to global warming, which is causing fewer cold air masses to affect Vietnam during this month.

The forecast indicates widespread moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms across northern Vietnam from Friday evening through Saturday. The northwestern region, along with parts of Phu Tho and Tuyen Quang provinces, could see extremely heavy rainfall, potentially exceeding 250 mm. Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces are also expected to receive significant rainfall. The region faces risks of flash floods and landslides, particularly in the northwestern areas. Residents are also warned of potential thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail.

Temperatures in the northeastern regions and Thanh Hoa are predicted to fall below 31 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with cooler nights expected from Friday. The lowest temperatures could drop below 21 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas. Hanoi will experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with cooler temperatures from Friday night. The cold air mass is also causing strong winds and high waves in the northern Gulf of Tonkin, leading to rough seas.

Meanwhile, the heatwave that has affected central Vietnam for over 10 days is expected to subside by Sunday. Sunny weather will be limited to areas south of Hue and eastern Dak Lak on Saturday, with the heatwave largely ending on Sunday.

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This means the Earth is warming up, and cold air masses affecting Vietnam in June are becoming less frequent.