The tropical depression in the East Sea has intensified into storm ‘Phakhar’, which is now making its way to the coastline off Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces, said the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Centre.
‘Phakhar’ is this year’s first storm to hit the East Sea.
By 7am this morning, March 30, it was centered 9.8 degrees north latitude and 111.4 degrees east longitude, 330 kilometres southeast off Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces in the south central region.
The storm generated wind gales of level 8-9, moving at 62-88 kilometres an hour near its eye and gusts of level 10-11.
Within the next 24 hours, ‘Phakhar’ is forecast to move west and northwest at five kilometres an hour and might gain in strength.
By 7am tomorrow, March 31, it will be 190 kilometres southeast off the coasts of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces with wind gales rising to level 9, blowing at 75-88 kilometres an hour.
Affected by the storm, waters between Binh Dinh and Binh Thuan Provinces will be choppy with winds of level 6-7 moving 39-61 kilometres an hour. Coastal areas in the area will experience medium to heavy rainfall.
In addition, a cold front is moving south and set to affect Northern Vietnam by midnight today.
The cold front will then extend to northern and mid-central regions bringing in showers and thunderstorms in some measure.
Very strong northeasterly winds of expected level 7-8 at 50-74 kilometres an hour will stir waters off the central region and the Gulf of Tonkin from tonight.
Temperatures will drop by nightfall in the northern and central provinces.
Related article:
Tropical depression moves towards Truong Sa Islands
