Meteorologists at Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting are tracking a low pressure system in the East Sea that was responsible for rain and thunderstorms during Saturday night and Sunday morning in the parts from Da Nang to Binh Thuan, Central Highlands and Southern Viet Nam, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

In its latest bulletin, the National Weather Service said that as of Sunday morning, the system was already located at latitude 13°5'N-14°5'N and longitude 112°5'E- 113°5'E, near near offshore areas between Binh Dinh to Ninh Thuan. A disorganized area of low pressure is slowly moving west.

The system is expected to continue becoming better organized and forecasters say conditions are conducive for this system to develop into a tropical depression in coming days.

The forecaster has warned that there will be showers and thundery downpours in the parts from Da Nang to Binh Thuan during daytime and night hours on Sunday. Localized rainfall accumulations could reach 20 to 50 mm, and localized accumulations in excess of 80mm are possible on Sunday.

Moderate to heavy rainfall warning is set to be in place across Central Highlands and Southern region while thundery downpours extending from Thua Thien- Hue to Binh Thuan, including Da Nang, is associated with a trough of low pressure. The warning will last until Tuesday, July 12.

Thunderstorms can produce tornadoes, lightning, hail and strong winds in the warning areas.

Forecasters have also issued warnings of flash floods and landslides for mountainous areas in Central Highlands, and localized flooding alerts are in place in low-lying and riverside areas. The advisory urges residents to ‘be aware’ of inclement weather. Local residents are advised to get ready for such weather conditions in an attempt to reduce the risk of possible damages.

On Sunday, South of the East Sea will see gradually increasing the southwest winds at levels 5- 6, and the gusts reaching levels 7 to 8, and experience rough seas. The western part of ​​ South of the East Sea and the offshore areas stretching Binh Thuan to Ca Mau will see gradually increasing southwest winds at levels 6 to 7, and gustiness of levels 8 to 9, as well as experience rough seas with waves as high as 2-4m.

In addition, the low pressure system is bringing the threat of strong showers and thunderstorms to the offshore areas stretching from Binh Dinh to Ca Mau, Ca Mau to Kien Giang, the Gulf of Thailand, the middle and south of the East Sea (including the waters of the Truong Sa Islands), national weather forecasters have warned.

Monday into Wednesday, July 13, south of the East Sea (including the waters of the Truong Sa Islands) will likely to see gradually increasing the southwest wind at levels 6- 7, and the gusts reaching levels 8 to 9, and experience rough seas with waves as high as 2m to 4m.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L