Vietnam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said late on June 3 that a low-pressure system over the East Sea had strengthened into a tropical depression, marking the first such system in the region this year.
At 10 pm, the centre of the tropical depression was located about 250km east of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago. Maximum sustained winds near its centre were measured at force 6 on the Beaufort scale, equivalent to 39-49km/h, with gusts reaching force 8.
The projected path of the tropical depression (Photo: NCHMF).
According to forecasters, the system is expected to move northeast at a speed of around 10km/h over the next 24 to 36 hours.
The tropical depression is then forecast to move out of the East Sea towards Taiwan (China) and is considered unlikely to have a direct impact on Vietnam's mainland.
Due to the system's influence, strong winds are forecast on June 4 across the southern part of the northern East Sea, the central East Sea, waters stretching from Khanh Hoa Province to Ca Mau Province, and the southern East Sea, including the Truong Sa (Spratly) Special Zone.
Winds are expected to reach force 6, with gusts of force 7 to 8. Waves could rise between 2 and 4 metres, creating rough sea conditions.
The affected marine areas are also forecast to experience showers and thunderstorms.
Meteorologists warned that thunderstorms could generate waterspouts and strong wind gusts of force 7 to 8. All vessels operating in these waters face a high risk from strong winds, large waves and hazardous weather conditions.
Earlier, Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecast Department at the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said June could see the formation of one tropical cyclone or tropical depression in the East Sea, although direct impacts on Vietnam were expected to be limited.
Forecasts indicate that the total number of storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea during this year's rainy and typhoon season is likely to remain below the long-term average.
On average, the East Sea records around 12.7 storms and tropical depressions annually, of which approximately 5.1 affect or make landfall in Vietnam.
However, meteorologists have cautioned that residents should remain alert to the possibility of powerful storms with complex and unpredictable tracks that could cause significant impacts within a short period.
From June to August, the number of storms and tropical depressions forming in the East Sea, as well as those directly affecting Vietnam, is forecast to remain broadly in line with historical averages.