A tropical depression is approaching Central Viet Nam after entering the East Sea on Thursday, according to Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.    

The forecast track for the tropical depression (Source:Viet Nam’s National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting)

Forecasters expect the depression will make landfall on Saturday in mid-central Viet Nam and it could dump more heavy rain on the affected areas. Some parts of Central Viet Nam, including Da Nang, has been hit by devastating flooding over the past week, and parts of mid-central Viet Nam will continue to battle extensive flooding as the depression will hit these areas on Saturday, forecasters said.

At 4.00 am today, the centre of the depression was at latitude 15°0’N and longitude 113°9’E, about 300km southeast of Viet Nam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, and 510km east of the Vietnamese coastline from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa Province. Maximum sustained winds were between 40 and 50kph at level 6 near the centre of the depression with a gust of level 8.

At 4.00 pm today, the centre of the depression is predicted to be about latitude 15°1’N and longitude 110°5’E, 160km east of the mainland of Da Nang to Khanh Hoa Province, packing sustained wind speeds of level 7, with a gust of level 9 near its centre.

Over the next 24 hours, the depression will continue moving west-northwestward at about 25-30 kph, and it is likely to hit the Central Viet Nam before weakening into a low-pressure system.

At 4.00 am on Saturday, 17 October, the low pressure system is forecast to be centered right on Southern Laos with maximum sustained winds near its centre at below 39kph.

Under the influence of the depression combined with a cold front, heavy downpours will make a comeback to central Viet Nam, from 16 into 21 October, posing a threat of widespread flooding in central localities, including Da Nang.

The total rainfall in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh will be 500-800 millimeters and over 800 millimeters in some parts of these provinces during that period.

Between 300mm and 500mm of rain will fall in the provinces of Nghe An, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien-Hue.

Rain in the localities from Da Nang to Phu Yen will be at 200-300 mm.

Torrential rain may continue to batter central and south-central Viet Nam after 21 October.

From October 16 to 18, medium to heavy downpour at 100-200 millimeters will be likely to dampen Central Viet Nam.

By HOANG HIEP - Translated by M.D