Frost covers trees on the top of Lảo Thẩn Mountain, Y Tý Commune, in the northern mountainous of Lào Cai Province last February. — VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

HÀ NỘI — The northern region is bracing itself for a major cold snap with temperatures forecast to plummet below 10 degrees Celsius. Starting this Saturday and lasting until the following Thursday, the freezing conditions are expected to bring frost to mountainous areas. 

This is the coldest weather since the beginning of the winter in the north, said the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

According to Hoàng Phúc Lâm, deputy director of the centre, since the morning of this Saturday, the north and north-central provinces are likely to experience severe and damaging cold weather on a large scale.

Temperatures will drop to 8-11 degrees Celsius in the delta and coastal areas and just 3-5 degrees Celsius in the mountains and midlands.

Some high mountainous areas are forecast to be below freezing.

Therefore, people are advised to apply measures to prevent cold for their livestock and plants.

The centre also said that Hà Nội and the northern delta would maintain sunny but cold weather until this Friday, with temperatures from 12-22 degrees Celsius.

According to the centre, the intensity and frequency of cold spells will increase this month. The northern provinces are expected to have many cold days, and the severe cold weather will likely be concentrated in the second half of this month and January 2023.

Urgent message

The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has issued Official Dispatch No. 37/CĐ-QG to order relevant agencies and localities to deal with severe cold and frost.

The localities are told to closely monitor weather developments and implement measures to ensure people's safety, especially the elderly and children.

People are advised not to use coal stoves for heating in closed rooms to avoid unfortunate incidents like those which have caused loss of life in recent years.

The relevant agencies have to strengthen guidance to households on keeping warm and storing food for livestock. 

The localities also have to actively inform and guide tourists on roads that are likely to occur icy and slippery to ensure the safety of people and vehicles.

Central and local press agencies are asked to regularly update developments of the severe cold so that people know and take measures to avoid the cold's impacts. — VNS