Central Viet Nam is bracing for a battering of strong winds and torrential rain as Typhoon Rai makes its way across the East Sea.

Typhoon Rai will produce moderate to locally heavy rain across Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam with possibility of very heavy rains in some places from Saturday into next Monday, December 20, according to the Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The mainland of the said localities will see gradually increasing strong winds at levels 5 to 6, and the gusts reaching level 7.

By the coast, residents in Quang Ngai will see strong winds at level 8, and the gusts as high as level 8 in some places, and farther inland you could find high winds at levels 6 to 7.

Forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas.

Expected track of Typhoon Rai (Source: The Viet Nam Natural Disaster Monitoring System)

In its latest bulletin, the Mid-Central Region Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting said that at 7:00 am on Sunday, December 19, typhoon Rai’s centre will be positioned at about 220km off the coast of the region from Phu Yen to Khanh Hoa, packing maximum sustained winds at levels 13 to 14, gustiness of up to level 16.

In the next 24 hours, the storm danger zone in the East Sea located at latitude 9-16°N  and longitude 118°E will see strong winds at level 6 or higher, and the gusts reaching level 8 or higher.

All vessels operating in the danger zone will face high risk of natural hazards, including strong winds, high waves and tornadoes.

Typhoon Rai will change its direction toward the north - northwest at about 15- 20km per hour. At 7:00 am on Monday, December 20, Rai’s center will be located about 220km east off the coast of the region from Da Nang to Quang Nam with the maximum sustained winds at level 11, and the gusts as high as level 13.

The storm is then expected to downgrade to a tropical depression while continuing to move toward the north-northeast at about 15-20km per hour.

At 7:00 am on Tuesday, December 21, the depression’s centre will sit over the waters off the Eastern Hainan Island in China with the maximum sustained winds at level 7 and gustiness of up to level 9.

Due to the strong influence of typhoon Rai and cold front, the North of ​​the East Sea (including the waters of the Hoang Sa Islands) will see high winds at levels 7 to 8, and the gusts reaching level 10 while the middle of the East Sea (including waters in the Northern Truong Sa Islands) could witness gradually increasing wind at levels 8 to 10, later increase to levels 11 to 12.

The area near the storm’s centre could see high winds at levels 13 to 14, and gustiness of up to level 17, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 8-10m.

From Saturday night, December 18, the offshore areas stretching from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, could see gradually increasing strong winds at levels 7 to 8, and at levels 9 to 10 from tomorrow.

From Sunday, December 19, the area near the storm’s centre could see high winds at levels 11 to 12, and gustiness of up to level 14, experience rough seas with waves as high as 6-8m.

The coastal areas will witness gradually increasing high winds at levels 6 to 7, and at levels 8 to 9 from tomorrow. The area near the storm’s centre could see high winds at levels 10 to 11, and the gusts as high as level 11, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 4-7m.

Saturday into next Monday, December 20, moderate to locally heavy rainfall are predicted for the parts from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, and very heavy rain is likely to occur in some places. The total rainfall amount will be 100-200mm in common, with more than 250mm for some places.

Forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas, and localized flooding alerts are in place in low-lying areas and riverside areas.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – translating by H.L