越南沙巴 降雪 snow in Sapa ,Vietnam Mar 16,2011

 越南沙巴 罕見降雪 

 更新日期:2011/03/19 14:41

（中央社記者方沛清沙巴19日專電）冷氣團南下越南北部，越南著名的旅遊景點老街（Lao Cai）省沙巴（SaPa）鎮降下瑞雪，有些地方甚至達到1公分厚，是過去10年前所未有。

越南「中央電視台」報導，16日早晨沙巴開始下雪，地上已有積雪，有些地方甚至達1公分厚。過去10年，沙巴沒有出現如此大的降雪。

越南是1個溫熱帶國家，北方1年四季分明，南方沒有冬天，平均溫度較高，幾乎不下雪，唯有位於最北邊的高山地區沙巴才偶爾降雪。一般而言，即使下雪，也下得特少，不能看到美麗的雪花滿天飛舞。

沙巴向來在12月或1月下雪，3月間下雪是歷史上的第1次。

由於沙巴出現如此罕見的現象，這幾天遊客紛紛來到這裡，希望看到一片白茫茫的雪景，但是今天已不見雪景。

根據越南「加網站」（vietnamplus.vn）報導，附近地區的某些學校允許全校學生放假；理由是上山看雪、下大雪路滑，以及太多帶著旅客的車子前往沙巴時塞車嚴重等。

沙巴突然在3月下大雪，遊客感到既好奇又高興，但越南氣象研究者反而煩惱憂慮。越南氣象預報局副局長阮蘭珠（Nguyen Lan Chau）表示，這一罕見現象預示著今年將出現較多違反自然規律的不正常氣候。

Snow falls in Sapa

2011-03-17 (GMT + 7)

Up to 15cm of snow fell for nearly three hours in Sa Pa and surrounding hill districts early this morning.

Le Minh Hai, deputy director of Lao Cai's Hydrometeorology Centre, said it was unusual for Vietnam for snow to fall at this time of year, which is classed as late spring or early summer. "Snow falls normally occur from December to February," he said. Hai said the snowflakes stirred excitement among locals and tourists. The last time snow was recorded in Sapa, which is 2,000m above sea level, was in January 2003, but it was only a light fall. Hai said a strong cold spell that had hit the north had brought the snow. A Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Sa Pa said tourists were heading to the hills to watch the event, creating congestion on several roads. 16 MARCH 2011 Snow in Sa Pa?!? With a day to go until we catch the train in Sa Pa we receive news that Sa Pa has SNOW?!?! Looks as though training might be a little colder than expected. Last update 16/03/2011 02:40:00 PM (GMT+7)    Geologists focus on conservation VietNamNet Bridge – Asia-Pacific geologists will gather in Ha Noi in July this year to discuss approaches to geopark and geotourism development and co-operation in conservation of nature and heritage. The second Asia-Pacific Geopark Network Symposium on Geopark and Geotourism will also provide a venue for participants to discuss measures to foster increased co-operation between member geoparks and stimulate contributions from different economic and scientific sectors. The event would affirm Viet Nam's support for UNESCO's initiative on global geopark development as a means for comprehensive conservation and improved utilisation of natural heritage, said Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Linh Ngoc at a briefing yesterday, March 15. "It is also an opportunity for Vietnamese geologists to learn from other countries in geopark development and management and is expected to help increase co-operation and mutual understanding between countries in the region in relation to geoparks, heritage and tourism," he said. The conference and related activities are scheduled to take place between July 16-24 in Ha Noi and other localities. The Asia-Pacific Geopark Network was founded in 2007 and currently has 31 members. Snow falls in Sapa Up to 15cm of snow fell for nearly three hours in Sa Pa and surrounding hill districts early this morning. Photo: VNN Le Minh Hai, deputy director of Lao Cai's Hydrometeorology Centre, said it was unusual for Viet Nam for snow to fall at this time of year, which is classed as late spring or early summer. "Snow falls normally occur from December to February," he said. Hai said the snowflakes stirred excitement among locals and tourists. The last time snow was recorded in Sapa, which is 2,000m above sea level, was in January 2003, but it was only a light fall. Hai said a strong cold spell that had hit the north had brought the snow. A Viet Nam News Agency correspondent in Sa Pa said tourists were heading to the hills to watch the event, creating congestion on several roads. ENVIRONMENT Last update 18/03/2011 04:00:00 PM (GMT+7)    Snowfall in Sapa is an anomaly VietNamNet Bridge - The northern mountain region is facing a harsh cold spell and has had heavy snowfall in recent days.    In Saoa town in Lao Cai Province and adjacent areas of Lai Chau Province, snowfall was about 3-5cms thick and in places it was even up to 10-20cm on March 16-17. Thick snow covered 30-40cm of the national highway to Sapa, causing traffic to come to a standstill. Hundred of trucks, buses and motorbikes broke down on the highway. Schools in Sapa town had to close and residents stayed indoors. Meanwhile, many visitors flocked to the area to see the snowfall. The local authorities had to mobilize bulldozers to clear the roads. Luu Minh Hai, director of the Hydro Meteorological Center of Lao Cai Province, said that he had never witnessed a snowfall in March in Sapa, only during December to February. The Dong Van Stone Plateau in Ha Giang Province also had nearly three hours of snowfall and temperatures dropped to minus 4 degrees Celsius on March 16. Communes including Lung Cu, Sa Phin, Lung Thin and Thai Phin Tung in Dong Van District were blanketed with snow and ice. The snowfall also covered some mountain tops in Cao Bang Province. The National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center said that the cold spell, which caused the severe cold weather in the northern region, would prevail for a couple of days more. Snowfall in Sapa town:   Source: SGGP/VNE/VietNamNet Unseasonal Snow Gives Backpackers a Shock in Vietnam Published on Mar 17, 2011 by Mike Wheatley The Sapa region of North Vietnam, a hugely popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country woke up to snowfall this morning as temperatures across the region plummeted to the lowest levels recorded in over a decade. Many locals rushed outside to experience the surprise snowfall Local people were rushing to the area in their droves to experience this once in a lifetime phenomenon, and saw snow of 2. 5cm thick sprinkled across the town, which lies just inside the tropics. According to Nguyen Manh Ho, the Director of the Hydro-meteorological Forecast Center in Hanoi, temperatures across the north of the country averaged between 4˚C and 7˚C on Thursday across mountainous areas, with the temperature dropping to below 0 in Sapa, where heavy snow began falling at 5am in the morning. The normally sun-baked paddy fields were blanketed in snow These freak weather conditions are totally unexpected in a region that is supposed to be embracing the hot season at this time of year, with average temperatures for March normally hovering around the 30s. The temperature dip is not just limited to Vietnam though. Large parts of Southeast Asia have been affected. Temperatures in the Thai capital Bangkok dropped to their lowest level in two years, 19˚C at noon today. Many residents struggled to come to terms with the unusual weather Sapa, located in the Lao Cai district, about 120km north-east of Hanoi, is a popular destination for travelers on the Southeast Asian backpacker trail, with its local hill-tribe population, its markets and its spectacular mountain/jungle scenery. No doubt many travelers woke up in shock this morning upon being confronted with snow and ice – a huge contrast from the normal scene pictured when you imagine the stereotype shirtless backpacker with long hair, shorts and sandals! The cold spell is expected to last for another 2 days before things get back to normal in the region.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAnbUaQjPpc