El Niño causes record heat in Northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam is experiencing unseasonably high temperatures due to a strengthening El Niño phenomenon. Despite entering the autumn and late autumn seasons, regions including Hanoi and the Northern Delta have recorded temperatures between 35 and 37 degrees Celsius. Since September, the region has documented 55 temperature record values, with some stations in Son La and Lai Chau reaching up to 38.3 degrees Celsius.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting attributes this heat to El Niño, which has created stable air masses over Northern Vietnam and hindered the southward movement of cold air. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that El Niño could reach its strongest intensity since 1950, with sea surface temperature anomalies in the Niño 3.4 region potentially reaching 3.7 degrees Celsius by late 2026.

Forecasts indicate that the upcoming winter in Northern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa will be warmer than average, with temperatures expected to be 1 to 1.5 degrees Celsius above historical norms. This trend is projected to persist through the early months of 2027, resulting in fewer intense cold spells.