Over the past 2 days, many places in the Northern provinces, especially mountainous areas, have experienced continuous hail, thunderstorms, heavy rains with strong gusts of wind, causing damage to houses, crops, civil works, etc.

On March 29, Head of Weather Forecasting Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Nguyen Van Huong explained this phenomenon.

Accordingly, the northern mountainous provinces in particular and the North in general are going through a transitional period, from spring to summer. During that period, the northern provinces will experience thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hail more frequently, concentrated from March to May, peaking in April 2024.

Unusual hail in Mu Cang Chai on March 28, 2024. Photo: Dan Tri

Mr. Huong explained that the direct cause of this phenomenon is due to weak cold air from the North flowing down on the relatively high temperature in the North, creating conditions for strong air mass disturbance; from there, convective clouds develop, causing thunderstorms with thunder, hail and strong gusts of wind.

In the coming time, most of the country will have a change in weather. The North and Central regions will change from cold to warmer weather. The South will change from dry to humid. Therefore, the probability of thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and strong gusts of wind will be higher, peaking around April and May.

Previously, in the seasonal forecast bulletin, Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, also warned that El Nino will gradually weaken and turn to a neutral state between April and June 2024 with a probability of 75-80%.

Heavy hail in Huu Khuong commune, Tuong Duong district, Nghe An province on the afternoon of March 28. Photo: An Thoai

From April, cold air is weak and there is little chance of severe cold. However, there is a possibility of dangerous weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind across the country; especially during cold air waves affecting our country during the transitional season (April-May).

Hail occurred continuously in many places

Hail has occurred in many places such as Yen Bai, Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai and Nghe An..., causing great damage to crops, houses and civil works of the people.

Specifically, on the morning of March 28, the hailstorm in some communes and towns of Mu Cang Chai ( Yen Bai province) lasted about 15-20 minutes with sudden thunderstorms that left people unable to react. The hail was thick, with the average diameter of the stones being 1.5-2 cm.

According to the leader of Mu Cang Chai district, this rain did not cause any human damage, property damage is being counted. This is a rather unusual weather phenomenon.

Also in this province, around noon of the same day, a thunderstorm with a cloud mass moved to Yen Bai city, causing the sky to darken, followed by tornadoes and hail. In addition, Tran Yen and Van Chan districts also recorded hail.

Initial statistics in this province show that nearly 160 houses had their roofs blown off; some houses collapsed and were completely destroyed; many people's properties were damaged.

In Moc Chau district ( Son La province), hail started in the early afternoon and lasted about 15-20 minutes. The hailstones were as big as fingers, covering the ground in a white layer. By this morning, the district counted about 2,500 hectares of plum trees that were bearing fruit affected by hail.

Or in Chieng Khay commune, Quynh Nhai district, heavy rain, lightning, whirlwinds and hail caused damage to people's houses and property.

On the morning of March 29, the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention, Control and Search and Rescue of Lao Cai province reported that hail and whirlwinds occurred in the area, injuring one person. Initial statistics show that heavy rain and whirlwinds damaged 48 houses in Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Simacai and Bac Ha districts. Bat Xat district was the most severely affected area with 37 houses.

Ha Giang province also reported preliminary statistics that the prolonged hailstorm damaged the roofs of 1,291 houses in many communes of Yen Minh district and some communes in Meo Vac; storms and tornadoes also blew off the roof of Xin Cai Secondary School (Veo Vac).

In addition, many areas in the mountainous region of Nghe An also experienced hail. The leader of Ky Son district said that the hail occurred on the afternoon of March 28, most densely in the remote areas of My Ly commune.

At the same time, in Mai Son, Yen Thang, Yen Hoa communes (Tuong Duong district), hail occurred over a large area for about 20 minutes. The hailstones were 1-2cm in diameter, crushing crops and puncturing roofs of houses...

Meteorological experts recommend that, in the face of the above weather patterns, people need to regularly monitor forecasts and warnings from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting; provincial, municipal and regional hydro-meteorological stations; and central and local mainstream media to proactively respond.

The government and relevant agencies need to promptly provide disaster forecast information to the people; propagate and implement an absolute ban on people's activities in areas at high risk of thunderstorms, tornadoes, lightning, hail, etc. At the same time, strictly follow the instructions on disaster response and prevention of local authorities.

Warning of hail and localized heavy rain in many places in Hanoi's inner city . The central districts of Hanoi will have thunderstorms in the next 2-3 hours. The hydro-meteorological agency warns of the possibility of tornadoes, lightning, hail, localized heavy rain with strong gusts of wind.
Thunderstorms across the North, with possible tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind . Weak cold air combined with some weather patterns causes widespread thunderstorms, localized heavy rain with tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts of wind in the North, North and North Central regions.