As extreme cold moves in on northern Vietnam due to a prolonged cold front, the temperature at the peak of Mau Son Mountain in Lang Son Province dropped to more than minus two degrees Celsius early on Friday, the central weather agency reported.

At 6:00 am on Friday, the mountaintop was frostbitten by temperatures of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, the coldest ever recorded in northern Vietnam, according to the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

Other lows were recorded in Sa Pa Town under Lao Cai Province at 3.8 degrees Celsius, Cao Bang City under Cao Bang Province at 6.5 degrees, Bai Chay Beach in Quang Ninh Province at 8.9 degrees, and Hai Phong City at 9.5 degrees.

Other northern localities and north-central provinces, such as Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, saw temperatures at 10-13 degrees Celsius.

Aside from Mau Son, other northern mountainous areas logged mecury at below eight degrees Celsius.

In the capital city of Hanoi, the temperature was measured at 12 degrees Celsius.

Affected by the cold spell that entered northern Vietnam about a week ago, this extreme weather pattern is forecast to last in the region until December 25, with the common lows expected to range from eight to 11 degrees Celsius.

Similar temperatures are expected in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. 

In the northern mountainous region, temperatures will drop to 4-7 degrees Celsius, perhaps even hitting three degrees in some locations.

The north-central area from Ha Tinh to Thua Thien Hue Provinces will see temperatures from 13 to 16 degrees.

Frost is likely to descend on northern mountainous and midland areas, the center warned.

The agency also predicted medium to very heavy rains and thunderstorms this weekend from central Da Nang City to Binh Thuan, a coastal province in the south-central region.

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