HCMC – Typhoon Goni, the 10th storm expected to hit Vietnam this year, is forecast to weaken as it makes landfall in the country on November 5, but could cause heavy rains and damage to central Vietnam, said director of the national weather center, Mai Van Khiem.

The combined impact of Goni and northeast monsoon wind will likely trigger widespread, heavy rains in localities in the central and Central Highlands. Between November 4 and 6, the rainfall is expected to reach 100-200 millimeters in the central provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and the northern part of the Central Highlands; 300-400 millimeters in localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai. From November 5 to 7, localities from Nghe An to Quang  Tri could see rainfall of 150-300 millimeters. Water levels could reach alert level 3 in rivers of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai; exceed alert level 2 in rivers of localities from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and the two Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum. Aside from bringing heavy rains, the typhoon is predicted to pack strong winds that pose threats to operating fishing boats. According to the national weather center, the typhoon was centered some 400 kilometers east-southeast of the Hoang Sa Archipelago as of 7 a.m. today, November 3, packing winds of 60-75 kilometers per hour, gusting at level 10. In the next 24 hours, the system may move west-southwest at around 10 kilometers per hour. By 7 a.m. on November 4, it could be spotted at approximately 300 kilometers south-southeast of the Hoang Sa Archipelago, with gusty winds at level 11. Goni may continue on the west-southwest drift at 10 kilometers for the next 24-48 hours before it weakens into a tropical depression, approaches the mainland in Quang Ngai to Khanh Hoa provinces, and continues to downgrade its intensity into a low pressure zone. Given the impact of the typhoon, weather experts advised local fishermen and crew members to stay updated on the weather forecast latest news via mass media and storm warning systems, as well as to observe the appearance of the sky and the ocean surface to predict changes in weather. On being notified of a storm, they should steer their boats toward the mainland or far away from affected areas.