Vietnam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said on July 7 that Ba Vi had weakened slightly from the previous day but remained a Category 16 super typhoon.
At 7 am, the storm's centre was about 1,850 km east of central Philippines and around 2,100 km southeast of Taiwan.
Forecast track of Super Typhoon Ba Vi by the Japanese meteorological agency (Photo: NCHMF).
Forecasters said Ba Vi would move west at 25 to 30 km/h over the next 24 hours before slowing to 15 to 20 km/h around July 9 and turning west northwest toward Taiwan.
The storm is expected to maintain super typhoon strength for another two to three days before gradually weakening from around July 10. It is forecast to pass north of Taiwan on July 11 before making landfall in Fujian Province, China, around July 12 and then weakening inland.
Satellite cloud image of Super Typhoon Ba Vi from Japan's Himawari satellite at 7.30 am on July 7 (Photo: NCHMF).
Although Ba Vi is considered unlikely to enter the East Sea, its expansive circulation is expected to affect weather conditions across the region.
From July 9, southwesterly winds are forecast to strengthen to Force 6 over the southern East Sea, including waters around the Truong Sa archipelago. Between July 10 and July 11, winds of Force 6 to 7 and waves of three to five metres are forecast across the northern, central and southern parts of the East Sea, including waters around the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, creating very rough seas.
The weather agency said vessels operating in the area should closely monitor forecasts and take precautions.
Looking ahead, forecasters said the ongoing El Niño conditions were expected to reduce tropical cyclone activity in the East Sea this year, with around eight to 10 storms forecast, of which three to five could affect Vietnam. Most are expected between July and September in northern Vietnam and October to November in central Vietnam, although southern areas could also be affected later in the year.
