Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Another coldfront arrived earlier on December 11, plunging the northern region into thecoldest days so far this winter and bringing rainfall to central Vietnam afterdisastrous downpours over the weekend.

The National Centre for Hydro-meteorologicalForecasting said that in the morning, the northeastern region could alreadyfeel the presence of the cold snap as temperatures dropped to 11-14 degreeCelsius (9-11 in uplands areas) and wind speeds picked up.

The northernmost province of Ha Giang isreadying measures to protect its 293,000-strong cattle herd from the wintrytemperatures, including consolidating livestock housing and ensuring there isenough grass and other dry food for the cattle.

The cold spell, expected to last for three days,will reach other areas in the north and north-central region later December 11 beforemoving further south.

Rains ranging from light showers to thunderstorms, accompanied by damaging winds, hail and tornadoes, can also be expected,especially in central provinces of Nghe An and Phu Yen.

Inundation in flatlands and urban areas islikely while residents of the mountainous areas need to be on watch forlandslides and flash floods, the national weather forecasting agency said.

Tourists and locals have been told to avoid SonTra peninsula, a popular tourist destination in the central coastal city of DaNang, as the mountainous roads are at high risks of landslides.

Phan Minh Hai, deputy head of the Son Tramanagement board, said landslides have hit 20 locations on the peninsula.Falling soil and toppled trees have blocked the flow of traffic to varioussites in the area.

A meeting of the Da Nang People’s Council,scheduled to run from December 11-13, was pushed back to next week as the areadeals with the consequences of earlier flooding and braces for the incomingcold spell.

However, water levels in various hydropowerreservoir lakes across the province are still below operating levels, a rareoccurrence during the rainy season.

Downpours over the weekend left one 21-year-oldman in Huong Tra township of Hue missing and 20ha of crops in several communesof Quang Dien district submerged. A number of roads in Hue remain waterlogged,hindering traffic.

The southern region also experienced thelingering impact of the previous cold spell from the north, as HCM City thismorning witnessed a thunderstorm that brought 40-50mm of rainfall – asignificant amount given it is currently the dry season.

Cold air will likely continue to push southward,clashing with warmer air and likely bringing extreme weather events, weatherauthorities said.

Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy director of the NationalCentre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, said the central region wouldcontinue to face more widespread rains in December.-VNS/VNA