Tropical storm Vicente is moving in the East Sea towards Southern China and will likely enter the Tonkin Gulf tomorrow, Vietnam’s Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center reported.
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| The expected route of tropical storm Vicente |
The storm is moving west-northwest at 15 kph and at 4 pm today it will lay 180 km east of China’s Leizhou Island with stronger winds of 75-102 kph, with gusts of 103-132 kph.
After passing the island tomorrow morning, the storm will enter the Tonkin Gulf. At 4 pm July 24, the center of the storm will lay about 90 km east-southeast of Mong Cai Town, Quang Ninh Province, with the same wind speed.
Vicente will then continue moving west-northwest at 10-15 kph over the next 24 hours and directly affect Vietnam, said Bui Minh Tang, director of the forecasting center.
The storm will cause rough seas and bring showers and thunderstorms to the north area of the East Sea, including the sea of Hoang Sa, with wind force measured at 40-62 kph. In the area near the storm’s eye the wind will be stronger, at 75-102 kph, with gusts of 103-132 kph.
The storm, which is combining with strong seasonal southwest winds, will also cause rough seas in the middle and southern areas of the East Sea, including the sea of Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, and in the region between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces, with winds of 30- 45 kph and gusts of up to 51- 75 kph.
Due to the storm northern and central provinces will experience medium and heavy rains, with downpours in some areas, from Tuesday to Thursday.
The storm will also bring rains to the region from Quang Binh to Quang Nam provinces, significantly easing the ongoing drought there.
In Southern Vietnam it will be very cloudy, with widespread rains and scattered thunderstorms.
Yesterday afternoon the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Strom Prevention and Control sent dispatches to authorities in coastal provinces and cities in the region between Quang Ninh to Phu Yen asking them to take measures to cope with the storm.
The Nam Dinh provincial authorities have called on all boats at sea to apply safety measures and seek shelter from the storm.