Viet Nam’s National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) issued the final advisory for SONCA on Saturday morning.

Storm SONCA was downgraded to a tropical depression early Saturday as it moved further inland across the parts from Quang Nam to Quang Ngai, according to national forecasters.

The latest path of what’s left of storm SONCA (Source: NCHMF)

Moderate to heavy rain with localised extremely heavy rain will hit the parts from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, including Da Nang, and the northern part of Central Highlands while heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the parts from Thua Thien- Hue to Quang Nam, including Da Nang, under the influence of what’s left of storm SONCA.

From 7:00pm on Friday to 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, over 200mm of rain were recorded in Bach Ma, Thua Thien- Hue Province, 570mm of rain were observed in Ba Na Hills, Da Nang. Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai Province experienced high winds at level 7, and the gusts as high as level 9.

At 4:00am on Saturday, the tropical depression was centred near latitude 15°2'N and longitude 108°5'E, sat over the parts from ​​​​Quang Nam to Quang Ngai. The maximum sustainable winds at the center of the tropical depression was level 6 (39-49km per hour), and gustiness of level 8. The depression will move in the west - northwest at about 15-20km per hour.

The depression will bring threat of strong showers and thunderstorms to the offshore area stretching from Quang Tri to Phu Yen (including Con Co and Ly Son islands) while these areas will see strong winds at level 6, and the gusts as high as levels 7 to 8, along with rough sea. The northern part of the East Sea (including the waters of the Hoang Sa Archipelago) could see the northeast wind at level 6, and the gusty winds at level 8, plus rough sea.

Coastal areas from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai will see high winds at level 6, and the gusts as high as levels 7 to 8.

Warnings for big waves and high tides have been issued to the offshore area in ​​Central Viet Nam (including Con Co and Ly Son islands) as the warning area could experience rough sea with waves as high as 3-5m, and 2-4m will be seen in coastal areas stretching from Quang Tri to Phu Yen.

National forecasters indicate rainfall of 50-100mm in Da Nang and the northern part of Quang Nam Province on Friday and Saturday and even in excess of 120mm at isolated places.

Reporting by TRIEU TUNG – Translating by H.L