Lao Cai again caught heavy hail

Lasting 20 minutes, early 29/3 hail rained down on Bao Yen district with a stone size of 7-8cm which caused much damage. Meteorological experts insist that this locality has never been hit by such intense rain.

>>>Terrible hail devastates Muong Khuong

From 1h40 to 2am on March 29, residents of Pho Giang town and 3 communes of Long Phuc, Luong Son and Xuan Thuong (Bao Yen) are awakened by the continuous beating on the roof. Detecting hail, relatives rushed under the shelter bed, or covered the blanket.

The diameter of the stone is quite large. (Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper)

Pho Giang town and Luong Son commune were raged heavily. The average size of stones is 4-6cm, the pellets are 7-8cm with dense density, causing hundreds of houses to be damaged. Rain accompanied by strong wind caused many wooden houses to collapse. Some people were injured by falling rocks.

Talking to the PV, Mr. Tran Dinh Khai, deputy head of the Bao Yen district flood control committee, said that the damage has not yet been calculated. The government is quickly helping people to overcome the consequences.

Mr. Luu Minh Hai, Director of Lao Cai Hydrometeorological Center, said hail appeared with strong winds of level 7-8 (equivalent to wind and storm level). Measured rainfall is quite large, above 40mm.

This expert expressed surprise with hail this morning. Often hail forms when there is a conflict between two hot and cold air streams. From March 27 until now, the cold air still maintains influence, so the thermal background in Lao Cai is still low, at night only 24 degrees C.

"It is likely that at a height of more than 5,000m, there is a low channel, creating a push-up line for convection clouds. The higher the rise, the cold convection cloud will condense into rocks and fall , " Hai said, judging and giving that high mountain and dense forest conditions like Lao Cai also cause hail to appear more than others.

Hail fell on the porch. (Photo: Lao Cai Newspaper)

Affirming that since ancient times, Lao Cai has never suffered from such intense hail, Mr. Hai warns that by March 31, the North will continue to receive weak and intensified cold air. People in mountainous areas need to be aware of unusual weather phenomena, including hail.

Earlier on March 27, hail rained down on 34 communes of 3 Lao Cai districts, Muong Khuong, Bac Ha and Si Ma Cai, causing 12,000 houses to be damaged, estimated losses of VND 70 billion. In Muong Khuong, many 10-14cm size stones damaged over 7,000 houses, 23 were hospitalized because of falling stones.

In the afternoon of March 27, in the district of Sapa, Bao Thang and Lao Cai City also saw hail, but the stone was only 1-3cm.