Vietnam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that at 7 pm on July 2, the centre of the tropical depression was located in the northwestern waters of the Hoang Sa archipelago, about 180 kilometres south south east of Hainan, China.
Maximum sustained winds near the centre reached force 7, or 50 to 61 kilometres per hour, with gusts of up to force 9. The system was moving westwards at around 20 kilometres per hour.
Forecasters said the tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm within the next 24 hours, becoming the first named storm to form in the East Sea this year.
The projected path of the tropical depression (Photo: NCHMF).
By 7 pm on July 3, the storm is expected to move over Hainan with maximum winds of force 8 and gusts of up to force 10, tracking northwest at 10 to 15 kilometres per hour.
By the evening of July 4, the storm is forecast to reach the northern Gulf of Tonkin with sustained winds of force 8 and gusts of force 10. It could directly affect coastal waters off Haiphong and Quang Ninh Province.
Between 48 and 72 hours after formation, the storm is expected to continue moving north northwest at 10 to 15 kilometres per hour before weakening into a tropical depression and later a low pressure area.
The weather agency warned that the western part of the northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa archipelago, will experience force 6 to 7 winds, strengthening to force 8 to 9. Waves are forecast at two to four metres, rising to three to five metres near the storm's centre, with very rough seas.
From the night of July 3, the northern Gulf of Tonkin, including the waters around Bach Long Vi, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai and Hon Dau Island, is expected to see winds increasing to force 6 to 7. Areas close to the storm's path could experience force 8 winds with gusts of force 9 to 10, accompanied by waves of two to four metres and rough seas.
The meteorological agency warned that vessels operating in affected waters face risks from thunderstorms, waterspouts, strong winds and high waves.
From the night of July 3 through July 5, widespread heavy rainfall is forecast across northeastern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa Province. Total rainfall is expected to range from 100 to 200 millimetres, increasing to 150 to 250 millimetres across the northeast, with isolated areas receiving more than 350 millimetres.
