Tropical storm Noul, the fifth storm to have hit Viet Nam this year, is forecast to make landfall in the coastal localities from Quang Binh Province to Da Nang on Friday afternoon, Viet Nam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned.

The expected track of the storm (Source: The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting)

At 7am today, 17 September, the storm’s centre was located at latitude 14°4’N and longitude 114°E, about 340 kilometers southeast of Viet Nam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, with maximum sustained wind speeds near its center reaching 90-110kph (level 10), gusting at level 12.

Over the next 24 hours, the storm is predicted to move in a west- northwest direction at a velocity of 20 kph and it will become stronger.

At 7am tomorrow, 18 September, the storm will be positioned at latitude 16°3’N and longitude 109°2’E, right on the coast of Quang Binh-Quang Ngai provinces. The strongest wind speed near its centre will be 100-135kph at levels 11-12, with a gust of level 14.

Twenty four hours later, the storm will make landfall in the localities from Quang Binh Province to Da Nang.

Likewise, weather forecasting centers in the U.S., Japan, and Hong Kong predict the storm would make landfall on the central coast Friday afternoon with a maximum speed of 130 kph. After that, the storm is highly likely to be weakened into tropical depression.

Due to the strong influence of the storm, the Hoang Sa archipelago and the waters off the central region are experiencing heavy thunderstorms, strong winds levels 8-9, sea waves from 3 to 4 m high, and rough seas.

Meanwhile, the storm is unleashing torrential downpours to Quang Binh - Quang Nam provinces with the total rainfall accumulation of between 150 and 400mm.

In particular, the amount of rain that falls on Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces is ranging from 200mm to 400mm.

Likewise, 150 - 300mm of rain is predicted to be recorded in Da Nang.

Quang Nam and Quang Ngai provinces are bracing for rain of milder intensity, hovering at between 70mm and 200mm.

To prepare for the arrival of the storm, the city’s Steering Committees for Natural Disaster Mitigation and Control, and Search and Rescue, has asked the local Border Guard High Command and the Coastal Information Station to keep all fishing boats operating at sea well informed of its position, direction and movement.  This will allow them to take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelter from the storm. 

Local offshore fishing boats are not being allowed to head out to sea, and relevant agencies are being asked to keep in close contact with boats at sea in order to handle any unexpected incidents.

The city's Green Trees-Park Company is responsible for keeping a close eye on trees which are at highest risk of falling down.

Viet Nam’s Ministry of National Defense has called for the mobilization of more than 300,000 people - soldiers, members of the police force, and civilian volunteers, to assist residents in storm-hit areas.

By HOANG HIEP, KTTVTTB - Translated by M.D