A heatwave has been forecast to hit northern and central Vietnam on Monday, while the ultraviolet index will also be at a harmful level in three of the country’s major cities.

The highest temperatures in northern and central provinces are expected to be between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

In the north-central province of Nghe An, mercury may exceed 40 degrees Celsius, while average highs in Hanoi will be 38.5 to 38.9 degrees Celsius.

The scorching weather is forecast to linger until Thursday, according to the weather center.

As the hot spell will be exacerbated by low humidity, local authorities also warned of fire and explosion hazards, as well as a high risk of forest fire.

Temperatures in Ho Chi Minh City will reach up to 34 degrees Celsius on Monday, while an evening shower is possible with gusts and thunderstorms.

Statistics from WeatherOnline, a British weather forecast website, show that the UV index in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be between 9 and 10 in the first half of this week.

UV levels in the central city of Da Nang reached 11 on Monday and will slightly decrease to 10 on the following days.

A UV index reading of 8 to 10 means very high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, while 11 or more is extremely dangerous, as unprotected skin and eyes can burn in minutes, according to the World Health Organization.

Residents are advised to apply sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.

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