In its latest bulletin, Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said early Friday morning, April 29, the newly-formed low-pressure system was positioned at latitude 8°5'N to 9°5'N and longitude 110°5'E to 111°5'E over the South of the East Sea. The system is expected to move generally west-northwestward over the East Sea, and it is likely to intensify into a tropical depression.

Friday into Saturday, April 30, the offshore areas stretching from Phu Yen to Ca Mau, including Da Nang, the middle and the South of the East Sea (including the waters of the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands), could see showers and severe thunderstorms with the possibility of tornadoes and gusty winds reaching levels 7 to 8, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 1m-2m due to the influence of the low pressure system.

The National Weather Service predicts that moderate to heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to lash over Northern Viet Nam late Saturday afternoon, April 30 into Sunday, May 1 with extremely heavy rain likely in some places under the combined influence of a low pressure trough and a cold front.

The total rainfall amount will be 40mm-70mm in common in the region while more than 100mm of rain could fall in some places.

As much as 50mm-100mm of rain could fall over the parts from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue, and even more than 120mm in some places from early Sunday morning, May 1 into Monday, May 2.

Friday into next Tuesday, May 3, the parts from Da Nang to Binh Thuan, Central Highlands and Southern Viet Nam could receive between 50mm and 100mm of rain, with more than 100mm possible in some places.

There are also warnings of thunderstorms, lightning strikes, high winds, tornadoes and hail in these areas.

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

From Saturday night (April 30), by the coastal areas they will see high winds at level 4, and farther inland you could find northeast winds at level 3.

Freezing temperatures are expected to strike the northern region and North Central Coast from Sunday, May 1 as temperatures are predicted to drop to 18 to 21 degrees Celsius, and 16 to 18 degrees Celsius in mountainous areas of the northern region.

From early Sunday morning, May 1, the Gulf of Tonkin could see northeasterly winds at levels 6 to 7, and gustiness of level 8, and experience rough seas with waves as high as 2m -4m.

From Sunday afternoon, May 1, the Northern East Sea and the offshore areas stretching from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, will see gradually increasing northeasterly winds at levels 6 to 7, and gustiness of level 8. The Northern East Sea could experience rough seas with waves as high as 4-6m while the offshore areas stretching from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai could experience rough seas with waves as high as 2-4m

Viet Nam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control is urging the warning areas to take proactive and necessary mitigation measures in response to severe weather. Focus must be on keeping a close watch on severe weather development, and keep local residents timely informed about extreme weather conditions in a bid to keep them safe and protect their properties. In addition, the heed must be paid on helping local residents get ready for such weather conditions in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages. Special attention must be given to keeping owners of vessels operating at sea timely informed about extreme weather conditions in order to help them take the initiative to avoid dangerous areas or seek safe shelters during the bad weather. The focus must be on making the resources available in order to organize timely rescue of any person in distress at sea and provide timely support for those who need it during severe weather.

The authorities in the warning areas must take resilience measures to help save lives and reduce the damage to individual houses, public infrastructure and crops. In addition, all necessary steps are needed to move people living in low-lying areas, along rivers and streams and areas at high risk of flash floods and landslides to safe places. Special attention must be given to making the resources available in order to drain rainwater from agricultural fields, low-lying areas, urban areas, most densely populated areas, industrial zones and other areas most at-risk of flooding in an effort to reduce costly damage to crops and property.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L