Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Climate Forecasting Department under the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that the highest temperatures during the heatwave have ranged from 36 to 40.1 degrees Celsius (96.8 to 104.18 degrees Fahrenheit).

The hotter places in the heatwave have been Lao Cai Province, Bac Me (Ha Giang), Bao Lac (Cao Bang) in northern Vietnam where temperatures have peaked at 39.5 degrees Celsius; Da Nang, 40 degrees Celsius; Tam Ky (Quang Nam) 40.5 degrees Celsius; Quang Ngai, 40.1 degrees Celsius; Binh Dinh (Phu Yen) 40 degrees Celsius; and Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa) 39.7 degrees Celsius. Hanoi had a high of 39 degrees Celsius.

Huong said this August has been hotter than in previous years. In Lao Cai, the temperature surpassed the previous high of 38.9 degrees Celsius recorded on August 18, 2016; in nearby Lang Son, that of 37 degrees Celsius on August 22, 1990; and in Hanoi that of 38.5 degrees Celsius on August 13, 2019.

In Da Nang, the temperature on August 5 was 39.7 degrees Celsius, more than the 39.5 degrees Celsius recorded on August 15, 1977. In the central province of Quang Ngai, the mercury reached 40.1 degrees Celsius on August 1, higher than 39.9 degrees Celsius recorded on August 19, 2019.

"The temperatures in August were so high because of the influence of the foehn wind from the southwest," Huong said.

The meteorological center has forecast that from August 9, there will be a wind convergence area in the northern region, affecting the midland and mountainous areas, causing heavy rains and thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, the central provinces are likely to remain hot because they are unlikely to receive any rainfall, but the heat will not be as intense, with normal temperatures ranging from 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, the center said.