According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, sea-surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region were around 2 degrees Celsius above normal in the second week of September, with El Niño expected to remain very strong through the end of the year.
Rainfall in parts of central Vietnam is forecast to be 20 to 40 percent below average, while the rainy season may end early in the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam. Fewer storms are expected in the East Sea, but authorities warn that heavy rain and other extreme weather events may still occur.