Storm Bualoi batters central Vietnam, set to expand northward

At 3:00 pm on Sunday, the eye of Bualoi was located about 140 kilometers southeast of northern Quang Tri Province, according to Hoang Phuc Lam, deputy head of the national weather center.

The storm had already begun affecting the coastal provinces from Quang Tri to Da Nang, with strong winds and heavy rains expected to expand into Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa by this evening.

Bualoi is currently moving at a speed of some 25 km/h, slower than forecast on Saturday.

This slowdown means that affected areas will endure prolonged periods of intense wind and rain, potentially lasting over an hour longer than earlier projections.

Its slower movement could introduce unexpected changes in its intensity or direction.

The storm’s center is forecast to make landfall between midnight and 2:00 am on Monday.

However, the zone of maximum impact, with powerful winds and torrential rain, extends several hundred kilometers around the eye.

The most dangerous period is expected to be between 8:00 pm tonight and 4:00–5:00 am on Monday.

Lam emphasized that the provinces facing the greatest danger are Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and northern Quang Tri.

“Strong winds at levels 12 can uproot large numbers of trees, damage infrastructure, and cause widespread roof loss,” he warned.

“Heavy rain can trigger flash floods, urban inundation, and landslides in mountainous regions,” he said.

The storm’s impact is expected to follow a northward path, starting with localities from Da Nang to Quang Tri, and then expand through Ha Tinh, Nghe An, and Thanh Hoa by the late evening.

Later tonight and into early tomorrow morning, northern provinces will begin to feel the effects, Lam added.

Widespread rainfall across northern Vietnam

Over the past 24 hours, many provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai have experienced moderate to heavy rain, with some areas recording precipitation of up to 490 mm.

The northern and central regions are forecast to receive widespread rainfall ranging from 100 to 300 mm through Tuesday next week.

In particular, the Red River Delta, Phu Tho, southern Son La, Lao Cai, and areas from Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri might see downpours of 200-400 mm, with some areas expected to surpass 600 mm.