Extreme cold records in Bac Ha and Sapa as cold spell covers the North

According to the hydro-meteorological station of Lao Cai province, from Monday night the cold spell increased sharply, causing the mercury in the area simultaneously decreased compared to the previous day.

At 7 am this morning, the temperature in Lao Cai City was down to 18.8C, Pho Rang (Bao Yen District) 18.6C, Bac Ha Town 13.2C and Sa Pa District even as low as 11C. Drizzles in Sa Pa National Tourist Area even added to the extreme cold there.

Currently, the cold air continues to intensify to Lao Cai, causing light rain in some places and causing the temperatures in the province to continue to fall lower.

It is forecast that tonight the lowest temperature in Lao Cai may drop to 16-18C, even 11-13C in the highlands, while Sapa may record 9-10C at the lowest.

In addition to the harmful cold weather, there has been dense fog which significantly affects transportation in the high mountainous areas.

Local authorities have urged farmers to actively implement measures to cope with the extreme cold to protect their crops and cattle.

The position and projected path of Typhoon Kalmaegi. (Photo: NCHMF)

On Tuesday morning, the Standing Offices of the Central Committees for Natural Disaster Management and Search and Rescue sent a telegraph to the authorities in coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Khanh Hoa and other concerned agencies, urging for measures to cope with Typhoon Kalmaegi, which is progressing near the East Sea.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), at 1pm this afternoon, the location of the storm was over the northeast coast of Luzon Island of the Philippines, packing winds at 100-115km/hour. It is forecast that over the next 24 hours, the typhoon will be less likely to move, then will move in a southwest direction, traveling at a speed of 10-15 km/hour and rapidly weaken into a tropical depression.

In addition, the reported cold spell has reached the Central as of Tuesday afternoon. Due to the influence of the cold air, tonight and tomorrow morning, provinces from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien - Hue will suffer from moderate rains, while the North and North Central witnessing chill at night and in the early morning.