La Nina officially appears, severe cold may be more severe

La Nina arrives later than expected

According to a new announcement from the Philippine Atmospheric and Geophysical Agency (PAGASA), La Nina has appeared in the tropical Pacific Ocean. The lower-than-average sea surface temperatures (starting in September 2024) have finally reached the threshold to be called La Nina. Previously, major meteorological agencies had predicted La Nina to start around October-November 2024, but the phenomenon ended up arriving later.

In contrast to El Nino, La Nina often makes the weather cooler/colder and wetter (higher humidity, rainfall) in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

PAGASA said La Nina will continue at least until the end of March 2025. Therefore, from now until the end of March, it is forecasted that Vietnam in particular and Southeast Asia in general will have higher than average rainfall.

The impact of La Nina on our country's weather

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, La Nina increases heavy rains and floods more frequently. During the rainy season, the Central region experiences many long periods of heavy rain, especially from September to December. This leads to severe flooding, landslides, and great loss of life and property.

The northern mountainous region and the Central Highlands are also affected by heavy rains, causing flash floods and landslides, which are particularly dangerous for communities living in these areas. Experts say the La Nina phenomenon is often associated with increased storm activity and tropical depressions in the East Sea. In Vietnam, the focus is on the coastal provinces of the central and northern regions, which may face more storms, with greater strength and causing heavy damage...

Mr. Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that due to the impact of La Nina, localities need to be on guard against the possibility of prolonged cold spells. Especially in mountainous areas, severe cold spells may occur, accompanied by frost and ice. This phenomenon can have a major impact on agricultural production and people's health.