Unpredictable weather patterns: Difficult to proactively prevent damage.

(Baonghean)At the beginning of summer, Nghe An province has already suffered from unusually intense heatwaves, as well as hailstorms and tornadoes. This is a consequence of climate change, partly due to increasing deforestation and the disruption of the natural flow of river systems.

In our province, the heatwave started around May 12th and is likely to last until the end of May. This year, it is predicted that there will be 12-13 widespread heatwaves, with temperatures potentially reaching 39°C - 41°C. Early-season heatwaves have already brought record-breaking temperatures in many areas; in some districts such as Do Luong, Nghia Dan, Quy Chau, Quy Hop, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, and Vinh City, temperatures have reached 39-41°C on some days. The prolonged, widespread heatwave has disrupted people's lives and daily activities. The market for electrical appliances, air conditioners, and sun-protective clothing has seen price increases and high sales. In Vinh City, almost every household uses air conditioners. Electricity demand has surged, leading to overload...

The intense heat has also caused drought in many agricultural areas in mountainous districts, leading to a lack of irrigation water, low yields of crops, and the risk of crop failure. Hailstorms and tornadoes in some localities have also caused significant damage to property and agricultural production.

According to Mr. Tang Van An, Head of the Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Department of the North Central Region Meteorological and Hydrological Station, extreme weather phenomena in Nghe An this year have been relatively frequent, such as hailstorms in Hoa Binh town (Tuong Duong district) on March 30th; tornadoes in Mon Son commune (Con Cuong district) on April 20th… In March, April, and up to May 20th, 2013, 13 tornadoes occurred in the following districts of Nghe An province: Thanh Chuong, Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Quy Chau, Con Cuong, Do Luong, Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, Anh Son, Nghia Dan, Yen Thanh, and Tan Ky. These tornadoes resulted in: 2 deaths; 71 houses collapsing or severely damaged; 1,600 houses with roofs blown off…; and damage to agriculture and forestry, including over 4,110 hectares of rice fields flattened; and nearly 1,098 hectares of corn and other crops damaged. 201.5 hectares of planted forest under 6 years old were felled…



Drought in the fields of Nghi Loc.

Unusual and extreme weather patterns, which are unpredictable, have significantly impacted agricultural production, making it difficult to proactively avoid them. In a discussion with us on this issue, Mr. Tang Van An stated: “We lack the necessary technology and equipment to predict extreme weather events. While we have met some of the requirements for disaster prevention and control, our warning and forecasting systems still have limitations; we lack an automated warning and forecasting system. We haven't been able to predict flash floods, in particular. To predict and warn of extreme meteorological and hydrological phenomena such as hailstorms, thunderstorms, and flash floods, we need a sufficiently dense and modern monitoring system, modern and reliable communication systems under all conditions. Most importantly, we need advanced forecasting and warning technology and a highly qualified team of professionals.”

Experience is increasingly showing that global climate change has had a significant impact on Vietnam in general and the North Central region in particular. Besides intense heatwaves and unusual thunderstorms and tornadoes during the summer, the weather will continue to be complex during the rainy season, requiring proactive measures to prevent strong storms, double floods, flash floods, and landslides. Furthermore, during the summer months, alternating periods of intense heat are localized strong thunderstorms, possibly accompanied by tornadoes, waterspouts, and hailstorms.

Quynh Lan