Vietnam suffers severe weather conditions for longest El Nino spell

November 30, 2015 | 10:33

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Vietnam has suffered harsh weather conditions this year as the consequences of the longest El Nino spell in history, according to the National Hydrometeorology Center.

The harshness of weather in the nation has manifested in symptoms such as higher temperature, low water level in rivers, the rise in sea water temperature, and the deeper intrusion of salt water into farms and rice fields.

Le Thanh Hai, deputy general director of the center, said Vietnam had 14 spells of hot weather covering large areas in the nation, with some places being scorched under the temperature of 42 degrees Celsius.

The highest water level during the peak of flood season in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam measured at Tan Chau District and Chau Doc Town was 2.55m and 2.35m respectively – the lowest level in the last 90 years since 1926.

The intrusion of sea water into rice fields and farms in the south has occurred as early as in January this year.

The level of salinity has been higher than the average rate of previous years.

According to the National Hydrometeorology Center, the temperature in Vietnam from November this year to April in 2016 is predicted to be higher than the average level of previous years from 0.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Winter months in northern Vietnam, from December this year to February next year, will also have higher temperature.

Generally, the coming winter will be warmer with less cold days in the north.

Hai revealed that indicators collected by international meteorological agencies show that this year’s El Nino reaches a record of harshness in the last 60 years, in both the longest time and the widest coverage of effect.

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