Typhoon Utor will make landfall on China’s Leizhou Peninsula today with maximum winds of 166 kph, before moving on to the Chinese province of Guang Xi and then weakening into a depression, the Vietnam National Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center has warned.

At 4 am today, August 14, Utor was centered at 20.2 degrees latitude north, 112.5 degrees longitude east, about 220 km east-northeast of the peninsula. Winds near the eye reached 134-166 kph, with gusts of 184- 220 kph.

The typhoon is moving northwest at a speed of about 15 kph and at 4 pm today, it will be located at 21.4 degrees latitude north, 110.0 degrees longitude east, southeast of Leizhou. Winds near the storm’s eye will measure 150-183 kph, with gusts of up to 220 kph.

The expected path of Typhoon Utor

After sweeping through the peninsula, the typhoon will enter Guang Xi province and weaken into a tropical depression.  At 4 am on August 15, it will be located at 22.7 degrees latitude north, 110.1 degrees longitude east, in an area southeast of Guang Xi. Winds near the storm’s eye will measure 89-117 kph with gusts of 118-149 kph.

Over the ensuing 24-48 hours, the typhoon will follow north-northwesterly course inside Guang Xi at a speed of 15 km and weaken into a tropical depression with winds of 39-61 kph. The depression will continue moving in the same direction at 5-10 kph before being downgraded to a low-pressure system.

The typhoon will cause rough seas in the northern area of the East Sea, with violent winds of 103- 133 kph, which will increase to 134-166 kph near the typhoon’s eye, with gusts of up to 220 kph.

Rough seas will also be seen north of Hoang Sa, with maximum winds of 50-74 kph and gusts of 75-102 kph. The Tonkin Gulf will have winds of 38-74 kph, and gusts of 75-102 kph.

Due to the typhoon, as of tonight torrential rain will drench northeastern provinces and then spread to the mountainous northern provinces. The heavy rains will last until the 17th and could result in rainfall totals of 200-300 mm.

In the northern midland delta and Hanoi, rainfall totals may be 100 mm and 50-100 mm respectively.

The storm, in combination with strong seasonal southwest winds, will also cause rough seas in the middle and southern areas of the East Sea, including around the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, and in the region between Binh Thuan and Ca Mau provinces, with winds of 29-49 kph and gusts of 50-74 kph. Showers and thunderstorms, possibly together with whirlwinds, will occur in these areas.

The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention has asked concerned agencies and local authorities from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh Provinces to keep all boats at sea informed of the typhoon’s movements so that they can take safety measures in time.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)