Storm Goni is expected to weaken into a tropical depression which is set to hit the south central region from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa tomorrow, on Friday, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHFM) said in its latest report on Thursday.

Storm Goni tracking map (Photo: NCHFM)

At 7 am on Thursday, centre of Goni lay around latitude 14°2’N and longitude 111°1’E, 220 km east off the coast of the region from Quang Ngai to Phu Yen, with winds of up to 75 kph. Goni will continue moving southwest at 10 kph in the next 24 hours, and it will batter the area from Quang Ngai and Khanh Hoa on Friday.

Continued weakening is expected, and the remnant low will move over the land.

From 1am on 5 November to 1am on 6 November, Goni is projected to move the west-southwestward at about 10km per hour, and it is expected to weaken into a tropical depression with the maximum sustained winds of some 40-60kph.

Between 1am and 1pm on 6 November, the depression is forecast to move mainly the west-southwestward at some 10kph, and make landfall anywhere from Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa, and it continues to degenerate into a remnant low or dissipate.

The post-tropical remnant low no longer has characteristics required for a tropical cyclone and has maximum sustained winds of about 39 mph.

Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh are being lashed with torrential rains as the remnants of Goni is moving in, while the central localities of Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang and Phu Yen and the Central Highlands cities of Kon Tum and Gia Lai are seeing light downpours.

In more details, the south-central localities of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh could be soaked by the heaviest downpours of 150-300mm in average volume. Meanwhile, the region from Nghe An to Quang Tri could experience 150-300mm of rain.

Vietnamese airlines decided to adjust flight schedules on Thursday to avoid the impact of storm Goni in south-central localities.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines canceled six flights from HCMC and Ha Noi to Quy Nhon Airport in Binh Dinh and Chu Lai Airport in Quang Nam.

Meanwhile, some other flights take off between one and seven hours earlier than initially slated.

Likewise, low-cost airline Vietjet Air also canceled four flights from HCMC and Ha Noi to Chu Lai and two from HCMC to Quy Nhon.

Meanwhile, Pacific Airlines and Vasco, which are also members of the Vietnam Airlines Group, said they will keep a close eye on remnants of storm Goni to adjust flight schedules if necessary.

The group recommended passengers planning to board flights to/from the airports affected by remnants of storm Goni stay updated with weather forecasts and the carriers’ information.

By TRIEU TUNG- Translated by A.T