People ride motorbikes under scorching heat on a street in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre
The center said the ongoing heatwave is being driven by two main weather patterns affecting both the city and southern Vietnam.
A western hot low-pressure system is expanding eastward and southeastward while being pushed further south.
At the same time, a subtropical high-pressure system aloft, which typically limits cloud formation, is extending southward from central Vietnam into the south-central and southern regions.
The hot spell is expected to last until around next Monday or Tuesday before gradually easing.
In the next 24 hours, hot weather is forecast to persist across central and northern areas of Ho Chi Minh City.
Daytime high temperatures will reach 35-37 degrees Celsius, while minimum humidity is expected to be 40-50 percent.
The hottest hours are expected between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.
Temperatures are forecast to reach 35-36 degrees Celsius in wards and communes including Saigon, Cho Lon, Binh Thanh, Go Vap, Tan Binh, Thu Duc, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, Ben Cat, Bau Bang, and Dau Tieng.
In Thu Dau Mot Ward and Bac Tan Uyen and Phu Giao Communes, temperatures may rise to as high as 37 degrees Celsius.
The temperatures above are forecast values, while the actual temperature felt is expected to be higher due to direct sunlight and heat absorbed by surfaces such as concrete, asphalt roads, and high-rise buildings.
Authorities warned that prolonged heat combined with low humidity may increase the risk of fires in residential areas and forest zones.
The extreme conditions could also lead to heat-related health problems, including exhaustion and heatstroke, among people exposed to high temperatures for extended periods.
