A new cold wave will hit northern Vietnam starting Thursday, bringing sharp drops in temperature. The plains will see temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, while mountainous areas could fall to under 2 degrees.

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting stated that the cold front would first affect eastern northern regions before spreading further. Plains temperatures are forecasted to range between 10-13 degrees Celsius, and mountainous areas could dip as low as 5-9 degrees.

AccuWeather predicts that Hanoi’s daytime temperatures will drop by about 4 degrees leading into the weekend, with nighttime lows plunging by 7 degrees. Sa Pa, a high-altitude location in Lao Cai Province, is expected to experience temperatures between 2-7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, marking one of the coldest days.

Central Vietnam will also feel the effects of the cold wave, with temperatures forecasted between 10-18 degrees Celsius.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has urged northern mountainous authorities to prepare measures to minimize the cold's impact and guide residents on protecting their health.

This is the fourth cold wave affecting northern and central Vietnam since December. Previous cold spells saw temperatures in Lang Son Province's Mau Son drop to 3 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists warn that such cold waves may become more frequent and severe this month.