The tropical depression that was formed east of the Philippines’ Luzon Island yesterday has upgraded into a storm that is moving towards the East Sea with maximum winds of 74 kph, the National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center reported The tropical storm, with its international name Cimaron, will bring heavy rains to Vietnam’s central and southern provinces, the center said.

At 7 am today, the storm was centered at 18.5 degrees north and 121.6 degrees east, in a sea area north of the Luzon Island, packing winds of 62-74 kph and gusts of 87-102 kph. In the next 24 hours, the depression will move northwest at 15-20 kph and at 7 am July 18, it will be located at 21.4 degrees north and 118.1 degrees east, about 270 km southeast of the coast of the Chinese southern province of Guangdong. In areas near the storm’s eye, the win force will amount to 74 kph and gusts will reach 102 kph. The storm will continue moving northwest at the same speed and will likely change its direction to north-northeast to land in Guangdong at 7 am June 19. This morning, the storm will cause rough seas and strong winds, of up to 62 kph, to the northern area of the East Sea. Showers and thunderstorms are affecting this area. In combination with strong seasonal southwest winds, the storm will also cause rough seas in the middle and southern areas of the East Sea, including the sea of Truong Sa (Spratly), and in the region between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces, with winds of 45-62 kph and gusts of 75-87 kph. Showers, thunderstorms and whirlwinds will also be seen in the sea regions. Such weather pattern is bringing widespread heavy rains to the Central Highlands region and southern provinces, and the condition will last for a few days.