Brian Jeffrey
A wave of colder air is set to bring lower temperatures to Ho Chi Minh City during the upcoming Lunar New Year.
On January 28-29, coinciding with the Lunar New Year Eve and the first day of Tet, temperatures at night and in the early morning are predicted to drop to around 20°C, with some eastern areas potentially experiencing even lower temperatures.
This morning, January 26, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that cold air is already affecting much of northern Vietnam and parts of the central north. The Gulf of Tonkin has seen strong northeasterly winds reaching levels 8 and 9.
According to forecasts from the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center, this cold air mass will strengthen today and tomorrow (January 27-28). A subtropical high-pressure zone is also becoming active over south-central and southern Vietnam.
In the coming 10 days, the cold air is expected to persist and then ease gradually. It is likely to strengthen again around February 2-3, with moderate to strong northeasterly winds affecting southeastern coastal regions.
Potential Flood Risk from High Tides During Tet
The cold air mass will create cooler conditions on January 28-29, with Ho Chi Minh City experiencing nighttime temperatures of 20-21°C, and some eastern areas may drop below 20°C. Foggy weather is also anticipated in the days leading up to Tet.
During the Lunar New Year, low-lying and riverside areas in the city may be vulnerable to flooding caused by high tides.
Forecasters warn that water levels along the Saigon-Dong Nai river system will rise rapidly in the following days, coinciding with strong northeasterly winds of levels 5-6, occasionally reaching 7-8. The highest tidal levels are expected to approach alarm level 1 around January 29.
Authorities have indicated that elevated water levels may result in flooding in low-lying areas, riversides, and specific streets, including Huynh Tan Phat and Tran Xuan Soan in District 7, Le Van Luong, Dao Su Tich, and Pham Huu Lau in Nha Be District, as well as National Highway 50 in Binh Chanh District.
This flooding could impact traffic and influence socio-economic activities in the city during the holiday season.
Bao Anh
