High chances of storms until the end of the year: national forecast agency

Border guards in Hà Tĩnh Province help fishermen anchor their vessels on September 18 as the central region braces for Storm Soulik. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Quyết

HÀ NỘI — Frequent storms are expected until the end of 2024, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, head of the NCHMF’s Weather Forecast Department, said that the climate phenomenon ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) is in a neutral state.

Forecasts indicate a 60-70 per cent chance of a shift to La Niña from October to December this year.

This means that storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea will occur at an equal or higher frequency than the annual average of 4.5 storms per year.

The number of storms making landfall is likely to increase compared to the yearly average of 1.9 storms, with the central to southern regions being the most affected.

“The rainy season is expected to end later than usual in the central and southern regions and the Central Highlands. Rainfall is forecast to be higher than the yearly average in the central region as well as southern cities and provinces,” said Hưởng.

In addition to heavy rains from now until the beginning of December in the central region, cold spells are also expected during November-December.

The cold air mass and intertropical convergence zone, the reason for the recent rainfall, have weakened and dissipated as it passed through the central region. As a result, the heavy rain spell in the northern and central regions will end, and floodwaters will gradually recede.

Hưởng noted that there is little chance of storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea in the beginning of 2025.

During this period, intense and frequent cold spells are expected in the North, therefore people should be cautious about damaging frost, ice and snowfall in the mountainous areas. — VNS