In just one week, many places across the country experienced heavy hail, causing public concern. What is unusual about this weather phenomenon?
At 10:20 on the same day, the storm clouds moved to Yen Bai City, the sky was as dark as early evening. Thunderstorms and hail then rained down on the city. Tran Yen district also recorded thunderstorms and hail for about 15-20 minutes. The falling rock was not too thick, but it did collapse a wedding theater.
In Phu Tho, at noon on the same day, hail and thunderstorms occurred in Ha Hoa district. The Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Ha Hoa district said that the heavy rain lasting more than 1 hour, accompanied by hail and thunderstorms in communes and towns, blew off the roofs of 286 houses. 2 schools, 2 cultural houses, 9 factories damaged. In many communes, areas of trees and crops were broken by strong winds, with an estimated loss of over 180 hectares of crops (corn, vegetables and banana trees). The storm also toppled 143 hectares of trees in the district’s forestry area and toppled a number of fence systems and residential electric poles.
In Moc Chau district, Son La province, hail started at 1pm the same day. The stone particles are as big as a finger, forming a white layer on the ground after about 20 minutes. Moc Chau district grows many strawberries and plums and is in the harvest period. Hail damages trees and damages fruit. Authorities are letting people estimate the damage.
At 4:00 p.m. on the same day, in Nghe An, hail and strong winds swept through the communes of Mai Son, Yen Thang, Yen Hoa, Nga My… in Tuong Duong district for more than 20 minutes. Stones 1-2 cm in diameter fell, causing holes in dozens of roofs and damage to large areas of crops. Tuong Duong district authorities are counting the damage and advising people to take preventive measures to prevent unusual weather from affecting lives, property and crops.
At about 6:00 p.m. on the same day, hail occurred in Van Chai commune, Dong Van district (Ha Giang province) and some neighboring communes. The hailstorm lasted about 30 minutes and destroyed some people’s crops. Luckily there was no human damage. Some people shared that hail occurs on a large scale, with stone sizes ranging from 0.5 to 0.8cm.
On March 29, the leader of the People’s Committee of Lao Bao town (Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province) said that there was a hailstorm in the area at about 4:00 p.m. and lasted about 10 minutes. The mass of a common hailstone is about the size of an adult’s index finger. Initial statistics showed that the hail caused 3 houses in Lao Bao town and many trees to be damaged. Previously, on March 28 in Lao Bao town, there was also a tornado accompanied by heavy rain, causing dozens of houses, trees, etc. to be damaged.
The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said that thunderstorms and hail appear in the northern mountainous region due to the influence of weak cold air compressing low pressure troughs, combined with wind convergence at altitudes of 1,500-5,000 m. (Illustration)
March-April is the transition period from cold to hot, so unusual weather phenomena such as thunderstorms and hail often appear. Previously, on March 27, 350 houses and 20 schools in Ha Giang had their roofs blown off; On March 22, more than 40 houses with corrugated iron roofs in Sop Cop district (Son La) had their roofs blown off after a thunderstorm and hail. (Illustration)