A hot spell has been forecast to affect northern and central Vietnam later this week, raising temperatures there to up to 39 degrees Celsius, as the rainy season already began in the south on Sunday.

The scorching weather in the north and central of Vietnam is expected to last from May 16 to 20, with highs between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

In some central localities, temperatures may reach 40 degrees Celsius, while mercury can remain above 35 degrees Celsius for 12 to 16 hours a day.

Readings in Hanoi will be as high as 36-38 degrees Celsius during this period.

But this is not be the hottest period in northern and central provinces, as temperatures were much higher, in the range of 41-43 degrees Celsius, during the record-breaking heat wave that hit the regions from April 18 to 26, an official from the weather center assessed.

On May 19 and 20, northern Vietnam is forecast to be influenced by a monsoon, which will bring about downpours, thunderstorms, and gusts.

The hot weather in northern and some north-central localities will end after May 20, while the rest of the central region is expected to experience another heat wave, at the end of the month.

In southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, rain accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds is forecast to on Tuesday afternoon and evening. 

As the region has entered the rainy season, rainfall is expected to increase later this month.

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