Boats are anchored to avoid Typhoon Matmo in Quang Ninh Province on October 5.
Typhoon Matmo is forecast to enter the Gulf of Tonkin tonight before moving along the Vietnam-China border with sustained winds of 60-75 km/h and gusts up to 100 km/h, causing heavy rainfall across northern mountainous and midland areas, with some places expected to receive more than 400 mm.
According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 5 pm on October 5, Matmo’s eye was located over the Leizhou Peninsula in China, about 210 km from Mong Cai in Quang Ninh Province. The storm packed maximum sustained winds of 133 km/h (level 12) with gusts reaching level 15, slightly weakening due to land friction.
The typhoon is moving west-northwest at around 20 km/h. It is expected to enter the Gulf of Tonkin on the night of October 5 and reach Guangxi Province (China) by around 4 am tomorrow, with winds of 60–75 km/h (level 8–9) and gusts up to level 11. Matmo will then travel along the Vietnam-China border, gradually weakening into a tropical depression and later into a low-pressure area over northern Vietnam.
The centre's director, Mai Van Khiem, said that due to Matmo’s wide circulation, strong winds and heavy rainfall will affect land areas from tonight until tomorrow noon.
From October 5 through October 7, northern midland and mountainous regions are expected to see rainfall of 150-250 mm, with some areas exceeding 400 mm. The northern delta and Thanh Hoa province may receive 70-150 mm, with isolated places over 200 mm.
Hanoi is unlikely to experience strong winds from the storm but should prepare for thunderstorms, whirlwinds and gusty winds. Rainfall in the capital from early October 6 through October 7 is forecast at 70-120 mm, with some areas exceeding 150 mm, significantly less than during typhoon Bualoi.
