HCM CITY — The rainy season in the southern region this year is expected to have temperatures 0.4 to 0.8 degrees Celsius above average, according to the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Station.

Đặng Văn Dũng, deputy head of station, said the rainy season in the south would start a few days later this year, sometime between May 5-15, and will end in mid-November.

Rainfall could start earlier in the coastal areas of Kiên Giang and Cà Mau provinces, and the northern mountainous and the southeastern regions.

Heavy rains are usually affected by extreme weather events, and accompanied by strong thunderstorms, whirlwinds and lightning in the first months of the rainy season.

The hot peak of the dry season occurred in early May, Dũng said.

The highest temperature was recorded in HCM City and southeastern provinces, ranging from 36-38 degrees Celsius, while southwestern provinces had temperatures ranging from 35-37 degrees Celsius.

The dry season in the southern region could last until mid-May.

Rainfall occurred on April 30 and May 2 in some area of HCM City and southeastern and southwestern provinces, with no more than 50mm of rain.

According to the Southern Hydro-Meteorological Station, the East Sea (South China Sea) will see about 12-13 storms and tropical depressions this year, including five to six storms directly affecting Việt Nam.

Meanwhile, the southern region is weathering a tropical depression located 5 - 8 degrees north, with eastern winds reaching a speed of 5km per hour.

From May 4, scattered rain, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms accompanied by whirlwinds and strong winds could occur mainly in the afternoon and evening in the southern and Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) regions.

Residents in the southern region should take preventive measures against storms and tropical depressions in the last three months of the year, the station warned. — VNS