The cold spell is predicted to last around five days.
The temperature in the mountainous areas is projected to range from 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, even below zero in some places, with the possibility of frost in the nights of December 18-22.
The peak of the cold wave will fall on December 18 when the northern region is engulfed by cold wave and dry air. The temperature in Hanoi will be 11-13 degrees on that day and will increase to 16-19 degrees from December 19-22, the centre said.
To proactively cope with the extreme cold spell, the Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has requested localities in the northern and north-central regions to take measures to ensure safety for people, especially the elderly and children.
Residents are recommended to not use coal-burning stoves for heating in closed rooms as well as protect livestock and animals from hunger and cold.
The localities are required to proactively provide information and give instructions for people and tourists on slippery roads, where frost and ice may occur, to ensure traffic safety.
