Come rain or shine, more turning to independent weather forecasts for useful tips online

These weather forecasters on social media bridge gaps in official services, offering practical and timely local advice. Read more at straitstimes.com.

HANOI – Mr Tran Cong Nam, 55, a tour boat owner in Quang Tri province in central Vietnam, usually starts his days with a quick read of local weather forecasts on Facebook.

One of the pages he visits most often is that of Dr Huy Nguyen, a university lecturer in Hanoi and well-known climate change scientist who has been providing weather and disaster predictions for 15 years.

In a social media post on Feb 8, Dr Huy, widely known as The Weather Huy, urged farmers in central areas to quickly protect their flowers and plants as strong winds and rain were expected within 24 hours.

“We are so thankful for his weather forecast,” said Mr Nam. “The winds were particularly strong that day, and I also stayed on shore.”

Recently, Dr Huy, whose Facebook page has a massive following of 1.2 million people, was among the winners at the WeChoice Awards 2025, an annual event organised by leading local tech company VCCorp to honour inspiring people, stories and projects that positively impact the community.

He is one of a handful of independent, pro bono weathermen who have gained a solid reputation and public trust for their tireless, consistent contributions, such as doling out information on the temperature, giving wardrobe tips and issuing warnings about impending disasters.