The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said at midday on July 25 that Storm Noul, the second storm of the season, had strengthened to force 11-12, with gusts up to force 15, over the north-eastern waters of the northern East Sea, about 420 kilometres east-south-east of Hong Kong, China.
The storm was moving west-north-west at about 25 kilometres per hour.
By about 10 pm on July 25, the storm is forecast to move north-west at 20-25 kilometres per hour over the southern waters off Guangdong Province, China. At that point, it is expected to remain at force 12, with gusts up to force 15.
Forecast track of Storm Noul (Photo: Disaster monitoring system).
By the morning of July 26, the storm is expected to move inland in southern Guangdong Province at 15-20 kilometres per hour and weaken to force 10, with gusts up to force 12. By July 27, it is forecast to weaken further into a tropical depression, before becoming a low-pressure area over inland Hunan Province, China.
Meteorologists said the storm was expected to move mainly west-north-west and make landfall in Guangdong Province, China, with little chance of directly affecting mainland Vietnam.
Under the storm's influence, the north-eastern waters of the northern East Sea are experiencing force 8-10 winds and waves of 3-5 metres. Areas near the storm's centre have force 11-12 winds, gusts up to force 15 and waves of 5-7 metres, with very rough seas.
Overnight and this morning, the northern region saw light to moderate rain, with some places recording heavy to very heavy downpours. The southern part of the central highlands and the southern region had scattered showers and thunderstorms, with isolated areas of heavy to very heavy rain. Rainfall measured from 7 pm on July 24 to 8 am on July 25 exceeded 100mm in some places, including 117.6mm at Thach That in Hanoi, 113.4mm at Viet Vinh in Tuyen Quang Province and 100.8mm at Song Khan in Lam Dong Province.
On July 25, the north-western region is forecast to have scattered showers and thunderstorms, with rainfall of 10-20mm and isolated totals above 50mm.
The weather agency warned of the risk of flash floods, landslides and ground subsidence on slopes and along small streams in provinces including Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Phu Tho, Lao Cai and Tuyen Quang.
On the afternoon and night of July 25, the area from Nghe An to Danang and the central highlands is forecast to see scattered showers and thunderstorms, with rainfall of 10-30mm and isolated totals above 50mm.
On the afternoon and night of July 25, the southern region and Lam Dong Province are forecast to have rain, moderate rain and thunderstorms, with rainfall of 20-40mm and isolated totals above 100mm. Tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong gusts may occur during thunderstorms.