With temperatures topping 43.4 degrees Celsius in April, Ha Tinh Province in north-central Vietnam just went through the country’s hottest month ever recorded as 2019 might be on course for being the sultriest year in Vietnam’s history.

Other areas of northern and central Vietnam also saw temperatures reach 37-40 degrees Celsius in April, with parts of Quang Binh Province recording a high of 43 degrees Celsius during the month, said Nguyen Van Huong, an official at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) in Hanoi.

Last month, Hanoi and the northern province of Lai Chau recorded their hottest May in nearly four decades, with mercury reaching 41.3 degrees and 40.9 degrees Celsius, respectively, according to NCHMF statistics.

“Since January, temperatures in most areas of our country have been 1-2 degrees higher than the average [of previous years],” Huong said.

However, it might be too early to call it Vietnam’s hottest year on record since it is only half way through 2019, he added.

“We will have to wait another six months to see whether 2019 is indeed the hottest year in our country’s history,” Huong said.

“Only then will there be sufficient statistical data to accurately answer this question,” he explained.

The current heatwave affecting northern Vietnam is expected to last until Thursday, as heavy rains and thunderstorms will start to cool down the region from Friday, the official said.

In central Vietnam, high temperatures will remain longer and only begin to drop from Saturday, Huong added.

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