According to Vietnam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the centre of Storm Narra was located over waters south of the Bach Long Vi Special Zone at 4 am on August 25.
Maximum sustained winds near the storm's centre were estimated at force 8 on the Beaufort scale, or 62-74km/h, with gusts reaching force 10.
Storm systems active over the Pacific Ocean (Photo: Zoom Earth).
Narra was moving eastward at 5-10km/h and is forecast to turn northeast by 4 am on August 26. At that time, the storm's centre is expected to be over the eastern Gulf of Tonkin, about 200km east-northeast of the Bach Long Vi Special Zone, while maintaining force-8 winds and force-10 gusts.
By August 27, the storm is forecast to shift north-northeast at around 10km/h and make landfall in Guangxi, China. After moving inland, it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression and later into a low-pressure area with winds below force 6.
Forecasters said Narra would continue to generate strong winds across the Gulf of Tonkin, including the Bach Long Vi Special Zone. Winds of force 6-7 are expected across much of the area, increasing to force 8 near the storm's centre, with gusts reaching force 10. Wave heights are forecast at between two and four metres, creating rough sea conditions.
Meteorologists warned that vessels operating within the affected area could face thunderstorms, waterspouts, strong winds and high waves. Narra's circulation is also expected to increase the risk of thunderstorms and damaging wind gusts.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, two other named storms are currently active in the northwestern Pacific in addition to Narra: Saudel and Atsani.
Saudel remains the most significant of the three systems, maintaining considerable strength as it approaches Japan's Okinawa island chain.
The agency said Saudel was sustaining winds of around 170km/h. Although the storm has passed its peak intensity and has begun weakening, its wind field remains extensive and could bring hazardous weather to the Ryukyu Islands.
Saudel is forecast to continue moving west-northwest and pass near Okinawa during the night of August 25 or the early hours of August 26.
Meanwhile, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported that Atsani had maximum sustained winds of about 65km/h near its centre in the early hours of August 25.
The storm is moving northward at a relatively rapid speed of around 36km/h and is forecast to weaken below tropical-storm strength later on August 25.
Current forecasts indicate that Atsani will remain over open waters in the northwestern Pacific and is not expected to have a significant impact on land areas.