North: The storm has not yet entered, but the sky is already dark, with thunderstorms and hail.

Updated to 4pm on July 19, Hanoi sky is dark. Cao Bang, Quang Ninh, Tuyen Quang have seen thunderstorms and hail... making many people mistakenly think that storm Wipha has arrived.

On the morning of July 19, the North experienced widespread heat. Many places such as Hanoi, Bac Giang , Tuyen Quang, Hung Yen... had outdoor temperatures approaching or exceeding 37 degrees Celsius, making it sweltering. People had to find ways to combat the heat as temperatures rose.

Thunderstorm clouds appeared from noon on July 19. Satellite image

However, from around noon, a large band of thunderstorms began to form and quickly grew stronger, extending from Lao Cai through Tuyen Quang to Cao Bang , Lang Son, spreading to Quang Ninh province and the Gulf of Tonkin. The thunderstorms that appeared after the heat wave caused howling winds and whirlwinds, making many people mistakenly think that Typhoon Wipha had arrived.

Misty rain in Cam Pha ( Quang Ninh province). Photo: LUONG ANH

In the old Ha Long and Cam Pha areas (Quang Ninh province), at about 1:30 pm this afternoon, the weather turned to thunderstorms, followed by hail. In Ha Lam ward, small hailstones, larger than chopsticks, fell on the road and corrugated iron roofs.

Small stones were shot into a house in Quang Ninh province. Photo shared by a resident.

Some residents had not yet closed their windows when the hailstones flew into their homes. This phenomenon lasted for about 10-15 minutes before the rain and wind stopped.

Dark clouds gather in Tuyen Quang province

In Tuyen Quang province, dark clouds also gathered. Some inner-city roads were hit by trees falling due to strong winds, temporarily making traffic difficult. People shared that they were surprised by the rapid change in weather, which in just a few hours had changed from scorching sun to torrential rain and wind.

Trees fell in a tornado in Tuyen Quang province. Photo shared by local people

In Hoa An commune (Cao Bang province), people also discovered hail. After a thunderstorm this afternoon, the center of Bao Lam commune (Cao Bang province) was slightly flooded in some low-lying areas. The rain came quickly and stopped quite suddenly.

Fallen tree in Hoa An commune (Cao Bang province). Photo by CAOBANGONLINE

Cao Bang Center after the tornado at noon on July 19

According to meteorological experts, the storms and whirlwinds in the North at noon and afternoon on July 19 were caused by the atmospheric circulation of Typhoon Wipha (Typhoon No. 3) but were not yet the direct impacts of the storm. This afternoon, the center of the storm was still in the Northeast of the East Sea. However, from now until the time the storm enters the Gulf of Tonkin, the outer circulation and the interaction between hot air and humid winds could cause extreme and dangerous weather phenomena.

On the afternoon of July 19, Mr. Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that storm No. 3 is continuing to strengthen very quickly. In the next 24 to 36 hours, the storm is likely to reach level 12, gusting to level 15, causing waves 4-6m high and causing the North East Sea to be very rough.

Satellite images at 1:50 p.m. this afternoon (July 19) show that storm No. 3 has begun to form an eye - a sign that the storm's structure is completing and entering its strongest phase.

The eye of typhoon Wipha has formed. Satellite image at 1:50 p.m. on July 19.

According to the meteorological agency, the storm's impact is forecast to be very wide when it makes landfall. Localities such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa will be the areas most affected by the storm in the coming days.

The wind howled on the streets of Hanoi on the afternoon of July 19. Clip: HA NHUNG

Howling wind in Hanoi on the afternoon of July 19. Clip: TRUONG HUYEN

The meteorological agency warned people in coastal areas to urgently monitor forecast information and proactively take measures to prevent storms and the risk of heavy rain, flash floods, and strong gusts of wind over a wide area.

On the same day, July 19, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep signed an urgent dispatch, requesting localities to promptly respond to this storm.

ANGEL

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/mien-bac-bao-chua-vao-troi-da-toi-sam-dong-loc-va-mua-da-post804485.html