The average temperature in March was registered 0.7 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees lower than the average year.

Early in April, most areas on the west coast and some areas on the east coast witnessed 5 to 7 degrees C and the northern inland area and the tableland 0 to 2.5 degrees C, 2 to 3 degrees lower than the average year.

This is an all-time low since 1981, except the record of 3.7 degrees in 1996 and 4.2 degrees in 1993.

Precipitation was 18.6 mm in March and 18.1 mm early in April, 6.5 mm and 5.3 mm lower respectively than last year.

Most areas of the country had snow and rain on March 12, 19 and 20 and April 6 because of low temperature. And wind with speed of more than 10 meters per second frequently hit most areas on the east and west coasts.

Such phenomenon is attributable to the expansion of arctic cold air to middle latitude, affected by global climate change in recent years which brought change in balance of atmospheric circulation.

Chilly weather is expected to persist in most areas of the country till April 27, with 8 to 12 degrees C on an average, 0.5 degrees lower than the average year. From early May, the temperature will go up to 10-15 degrees C with the warm air from the south.