Brian Jeffrey
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) reported a 70% chance that a developing storm will approach the coastal areas between Thanh Hoa and Quang Nam provinces by midday on September 17.
As of 11:00 am, the NCHMF indicated that the current tropical depression over the northern East Sea may evolve into a Category 8 typhoon within the next day, moving westward towards the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands before taking a northwest turn.
Meteorologists believe there’s a 70% likelihood that the storm will impact the seas between Thanh Hoa and Quang Nam, while there’s less than a 15% chance it could divert north towards the Gulf of Tonkin or south towards the South Central Coast.
The center of the tropical depression features winds between 50 and 61 km/h, with gusts up to 88 km/h, traveling westward at about 20 km/h.
In the following 24 to 48 hours, this system is expected to strengthen into a typhoon, potentially generating sustained winds of 62 to 88 km/h and gusts up to 102 km/h, with a slight course adjustment moving northwest at roughly 10 km/h.
As the storm approaches, the eastern part of the northern East Sea is forecasted to face severe weather, with wave heights reaching between 3 to 5 meters. Vessels in the area should prepare for strong winds and rough seas.
The impending storm is likely to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds, posing dangerous conditions for maritime operations and coastal communities.
Bao Anh
