This year’s fourth tropical storm has entered the East Vietnam Sea and is forecast to make landfall in north-central provinces later this week.

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, Tropical Storm Podul was located about 620 kilometers east of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as of 7:00 am on Wednesday.

Average wind speed was recorded at 60 to 75km per hour, with gusts at up to 100km an hour.

The storm will travel westward in the next 24 hours as it picks up strength and is expected to hit Hoang Sa on Thursday morning, unleashing winds blowing at between 60 and 90km per hour.

As of 7:00 am on Friday, Podul will be located south of China’s Hainan Island, with winds increasing to between 75 and 100km an hour.

It is expected to make landfall on the coastline between Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh Provinces in north-central Vietnam later the same day, before weakening into a tropical depression.

Under the influence of the storm and its circulation, rough seas and strong waves will occur along the coast in northern and central provinces.

Heavy rains will dampen northern and north-central Vietnam from August 31 to September 2 and are likely to affect the holiday marking the country’s National Day (September 2).

Rain of milder intensity is in the forecast in the localities between the central city of Da Nang and the south-central province of Binh Thuan during this period.

In the Central Highlands and southern provinces, it will rain mainly in the evening.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!