Tropical storm Saola, with sustained winds of 166 kilometers per hour on the Philippines’ Luzon Island, is forecast to make its way toward the East Vietnam Sea on Thursday, said the national weather center.

The typhoon is predicted to move northwest at a maximum speed of 15 kilometers per hour and pick up strength in the next 24 hours.

As of 7:00 am on Thursday, Saola, the seventh tropical storm in the Philippines this year, could enter the East Vietnam Sea, packing wind gusts over level 17, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The typhoon is expected to maintain the northwest direction before weakening.

The northeast of the East Vietnam Sea may experience strong winds at level six starting from Tuesday evening, due to the impact of the tropical storm.

Winds in the affected waters are forecast to strengthen further, with gusts of level 14 on Wednesday night.

Heavy rains are expected to hit central and southern Vietnamese localities starting on Tuesday.

Showers and thunderstorms will likely affect the central provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai throughout Tuesday, with an average rainfall of 20-40mm.

Meanwhile, heavy downpours accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusts may strike the Central Highlands and southern provinces and cities late on Tuesday, where rainfall could reach over 70mm.

Also, people in low-lying and mountainous regions should prepare for possible flooding, flash floods, and landslides as a result of excessive rainfall.

Torrential rains in several parts of central Vietnam could linger until Thursday, the national weather center said.

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