A low pressure area has intensified into a tropical depression south of Huyen Tran Island, the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, triggering medium to heavy rains in the southern region, reported the National Hydro Meteorological Forecasting Center.
The tropical low pressure system was centered 290 kilometers east southeast off the coast from Binh Thuan to Ben Tre provinces at 10 a.m. this morning. The strongest winds near the center of the system reached level 7 moving 50-60 kilometers an hour.
In the next 24 hours, it will travel west northwest at 10 kilometers an hour towards the southern waters and might gain strengths. By 10 a.m. tomorrow, the system will locate in the coastal area of provinces from Binh Thuan to Ben Tre.
Being affected by the tropical depression, HCMC and southern provinces have seen medium to heavy rains since the late afternoon on December 11.
Rains will linger until December 13 with the precipitation of 100-200mm and over 200mm in some places. Thunderstorm will scatter across the southern region and might bring about cyclones and wind gusts.
In addition, a high tide has swelled Saigon and Mekong rivers threatening areas in lower reaches. Water level will reach its peak on December 14-15, surging to 1.6 meters at Phu An station in Saigon river. It is 0.1 meter higher than alarm level 3.
