At 4 am on November 29 the centre of Typhoon Koto was located about 310 km west-north-west of Song Tu Tay Island, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The strongest winds near the centre registered at level 9-10 (75-102 km/h), gusting to level 13.
Over the next 24 hours the typhoon is expected to move north-north-west at 5-10 km/h.
Compared with the morning of November 28, Typhoon Koto has weakened by nearly two levels and shifted its path from west-south-west to west-north-west.
By the early hours of November 30, the typhoon is projected to lie approximately 330 km east of the coast of Gia Lai-Dak Lak provinces, still at level 9-10 with gusts to level 13, travelling north at 3-5 km/h.
Dak Lak has issued a sea ban from November 27 ahead of Typhoon Koto
By 4 am on December 1 the storm is expected to be about 300 km east of the Gia Lai-Dak Lak coastline, with sustained winds at level 9 and gusts to level 12, moving slowly west at roughly 3 km/h as it continues to weaken.
Over the following 72-120 hours the system is forecast to drift slowly west-south-west at 3-5 km/h while steadily losing strength.
Because of Typhoon Koto, the north-west waters in the central East Sea will see winds at level 7-8, with higher winds near the storm centre at level 9-10 gusting to 12-13; wave heights in those areas are expected at 3-5 m, rising to 6-8 m close to the centre. Seas will be very rough.
Offshore from Gia Lai to Khanh Hoa provinces, mariners face level 6-7 winds initially, strengthening to level 8 and gusting to 9-10, with waves of 4-6 m and rough seas. Vessels operating in the hazardous zones risk exposure to squalls, whirlwinds, strong winds and high waves.
Meanwhile, at dawn on November 29 a new tropical depression was observed over waters east of Malaysia. Winds near the depression’s centre were at level 6-7 (39-61 km/h), gusting to level 9, moving north-east at roughly 15 km/h. Forecasts indicate the depression will enter the southern East Sea by the end of the day.
By early November 30 the system is expected to move east-north-east at about 15 km/h, penetrating deeper into the south-west area of the southern East Sea. Over the following 48-72 hours it should travel mainly north-east-by-north at 10-15 km/h and gradually weaken.
Under its influence, winds in the south-west waters of the southern East Sea will strengthen to force 6-7 with gusts to level 9, while waves reach 2.5-4 m and seas become rough. Vessels in these danger zones may face squalls, whirlwinds, strong winds and large waves.
