Vietnam Braces for Heavy Rainfall; El Niño's Impact Under Scrutiny

Vietnam is experiencing widespread heavy rainfall from the central (south of Nghe An province) to the southern regions as of September 20. Localized areas in the south and the Central Highlands are expected to see particularly intense downpours. The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that from the evening of the previous day to the morning of September 20, rainfall in the area from Nghe An to Ha Tinh province reached 40-80mm, with some eastern parts exceeding 200mm. Provinces from Quang Tri to Hue City are forecast to receive moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms, with some areas potentially experiencing very heavy rainfall of over 100mm. A warning has been issued for the possibility of rainfall intensity exceeding 100mm within a 3-hour period. In the southern regions and Lam Dong province, moderate rain and thunderstorms are expected, with some areas receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall of 20-40mm, and localized amounts exceeding 100mm, with rain concentrated in the afternoons and evenings. Other areas along the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands may also experience scattered showers and thunderstorms, with some locations receiving heavy rain of 15-30mm, and some exceeding 80mm. These heavy rains increase the risk of phenomena such as whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong gusts. In the sea areas, scattered showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the southern Gulf of Tonkin, the sea from southern Quang Tri to Ca Mau, Ca Mau to An Giang, the Gulf of Thailand, and the central and southern East Sea (including the Spratly Islands). These sea areas face the risk of whirlwinds, strong gusts of level 7-8, and sea waves exceeding 2 meters, necessitating significant caution for all vessels in operation. Meanwhile, Hanoi City is expected to have clear spells, with minimum temperatures ranging from 24-26°C and maximum temperatures between 32-34°C. The Northwest and Northeast regions are also largely forecast to be sunny with relatively mild temperatures. Regarding El Niño, it is predicted to maintain a very strong intensity until the end of 2026, with its impact potentially extending into early 2027. This prolonged El Niño phenomenon could further influence Vietnam's weather patterns.