The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting forecasted that a tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm in the East Vietnam Sea within Saturday. 

The tropical depression, located approximately 420 kilometers east-southeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago as of 8:45 am on Saturday, generated the strongest winds near its center at 50-61 kilometers per hour. 

Over the next 24 hours, the tropical depression is expected to move northwest at a speed of about 15 kilometers per hour and may intensify into a storm by 7:00 pm on Saturday.

By 7:00 am Sunday, the storm’s center will be located in the northeast sea of the Hoang Sa archipelago.

During the subsequent 24 to 48 hours, the storm will continue moving northwest at around 10 kilometers per hour and is unlikely to strengthen further. 

By 7:00 am Monday, the storm’s center will be situated in the southeast waters of China’s Hainan Island.

From 48 to 72 hours ahead, the storm will move northwest at a speed of 10-15 kilometers per hour, gradually weakening.

Weather impacts

The northern and central regions of the East Vietnam Sea will experience heavy showers, thunderstorms, strong winds, and very rough seas.

Due to the influence of the tropical convergence zone, which intersects the middle of the East Vietnam Sea and connects with the tropical depression, strong winds were observed on Phu Quy Island off Binh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected in the northern and southern areas of the East Vietnam Sea, including Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, from Binh Thuan Province to Ca Mau Province, Ca Mau Province to Kien Giang Province, and the Gulf of Thailand.

On Saturday and Sunday, the eastern part of the northern region and the central East Vietnam Sea will experience increasingly strong winds and very rough seas.

The sea area from Khanh Hoa Province to Binh Thuan Province, as well as the western portions of the central and southern East Vietnam Sea, including the western Truong Sa archipelago, will experience slightly weaker winds and rough seas.

All vessels operating in these areas face high risks from whirlwinds, strong winds, and large waves.

In Vietnam’s mainland, from early Saturday morning through Sunday, moderate to heavy rain, accompanied locally by very heavy rain with totals of 40-80 millimeters and in some places exceeding 120 millimeters, is expected in the Central Highlands and southern regions. 

Rainfall is likely to concentrate in the afternoon and evening.

The northern region is experiencing scattered showers and thunderstorms on Saturday morning and night, with locally heavy to very heavy rainfall of 10-30 millimeters and in some areas over 70 millimeters.

In the central region on Saturday afternoon and evening, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected, with heavy rainfall of 15-30 millimeters and in some areas over 70 millimeters.

There is a heightened risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas, and flooding in low-lying urban areas. 

During thunderstorms, there is also a possibility of whirlwinds, lightning, hail, and strong winds.

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