Searing heat returns to Vietnam for five days

Strong heat returned to northern Vietnam Friday, with highs of 35-37 degrees Celsius expected to last around five days.

At 1 p.m. Friday, Hanoi and several northern Vietnam localities recorded temperatures at around 35 degrees, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The return of a low-pressure area from the west has been cited as the cause for the new heat wave.

Starting Saturday, the heat will expand throughout other regions in northern Vietnam and is expected to last until June 21, with highs rising to 37 degrees. Some areas are forecast to experience heavy rains at dusk.

U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather reported that Hanoi would face temperatures between 27-37 degrees through at least Monday next week. High-altitude locations like Lao Cai’s Sa Pa would be cooler at between 16-19 degrees.

Central Vietnam regions would see temperatures driven up even higher starting Saturday with highs of 36-39 degrees. Southern Vietnam and the Central Highlands regions would see rains at dusk due to the effects of monsoon winds, with highs at 34 and 31 degrees, respectively.

Vietnam has suffered multiple heat waves since April, driving up power demand. Coupled with droughts at certain hydropower reservoirs, widespread power outages have been experienced across the land.