HÀ NỘI — A cold wave from the north is affecting the northern and central provinces from Friday, said the National Hydro-Meteorology Forecast Centre.

Under the influence of the cold wave, the daytime temperature is expected to drop remarkably, ranging between 10 and 17 degrees Celsius in the northern mountainous region and between 15 and 23 degrees Celsius in the Red River Delta region.

The northern and north-central region will experience widespread medium-heavy showers, while the central region and Central Highlands will experience rainfall, thunderstorms, cyclone and strong winds.

The northern part of the East Sea, including the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, is expected to receive powerful winds of level 7-8, with gusts of level 10. Seas will be rough.

To cope with the cold wave and unexpected weather, localities in the northern region, including Lào Cai and ĐiệnBiên, have adopted measures to minimise possible damage.

The People’s Committee of Lào Cai Province has requested the district authorities to update local people about the weather so that they can actively take preventive measures.

Local governments have been asked to review the number of households in areas prone to landslide and flash floods to set up plans for evacuation, if needed.

In the northern province of Điện Biên, the provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Rescue has sent officials to inspect and advise local people to strengthen their stables and store food for cattle.

Mùa A Dề, chairman of the People’s Committee of Tỏa Tình Commune in Tuần Giáo District, said local people were advised not to graze their cattle in extreme weather and not to go out during a storm.

Meanwhile, a hailstorm occurred on Thursday afternoon in the central province of Nghệ An, blowing away the roofs of 150 houses in two communes, Nguyễn Văn Hải, chairman of Tương Dương District’s People’s Committee, said.

According to residents, the hailstorm began at 4pm after a heavy downpour and lasted for an hour. Besides damaging houses, the storm uprooted many trees.

Local authorities sent a team to help the affected residents repair their damaged houses. — VNS