Meteorological agencies in Vietnam and abroad are tracking a tropical depression off the coast of the Philippines to assess whether it will strengthen into a storm after approaching the East Vietnam Sea on Tuesday.

As of 1:00 pm on Monday, the tropical depression was located in the eastern waters off the Philippine island of Luzon.

The system was traveling westward at approximately 15 kilometers per hour, packing maximum winds of 61 kilometers per hour near its center, according to Vietnam’s National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting.

It may maintain the same speed and path when entering the East Vietnam Sea by 1:00 pm on Tuesday.

After approaching the maritime area, the system is expected to move west-southwest at some 20 kilometers an hour and intensify into a storm.

By 1:00 pm on Wednesday, it may be spotted some 350 kilometers east-southeast of Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago in the East Vietnam Sea.

From Tuesday morning, the northern part of the maritime area could experience heavy showers and thunderstorms, with rough seas and winds blowing at 61 kilometers per hour.

The Japan Meteorological Agency earlier said that this tropical depression could enter the East Vietnam Sea on Tuesday morning, with a high chance of intensifying into a storm, the fourth to possibly hit the waterway this year.

Le Thi Xuan Lan, former deputy head of the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center’s forecasting department, explained that current conditions are conducive for the tropical depression to intensify into a storm.

It is expected to affect the southeastern part of northern Vietnam and the north-central region.

She advised local people to stay informed and in a state of preparedness to cope with any upcoming unexpected weather pattern, as the storm’s path and affected areas may change anytime.

As for the weather in southern Vietnam, widespread showers have hit the region over the past 24 hours, said Le Dinh Quyet, chief of the Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center’s forecasting department.

Southern Vietnam is forecast to see more moderate to heavy downpours in the next few days, with the rains mostly coming down in the afternoon and evening.

Ho Chi Minh City and several southern provinces like Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Long An, Tra Vinh, and Soc Trang could receive rainfall amounts ranging from 100mm to 120mm.

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