Tropical depression likely to strengthen into storm in East Vietnam Sea

As of 7:00 am on Thursday, the center of the tropical depression was located about 240 kilometers east-northeast of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Special Zone, with maximum sustained winds at 50-61 kph, or level 7, and gusts reaching level 9, according to the national weather center.

The system might move west-northwest at a speed of 10-15 kph over the next 24 hours, while intensifying into a storm.

If the strengthening occurs as projected, it will be officially designated as the first storm to hit the East Vietnam Sea in 2026.

On Friday morning, the storm is forecast to be over waters southeast of China's Hainan Island, packing sustained winds of levels 8-9 (62-88 kph) and gusts of levels 11-12.

The eye of the storm is expected to cross Hainan Island on Friday evening before entering the Gulf of Tonkin during the early hours of Saturday.

At 7:00 am on Saturday, the storm is forecast to be over the northern Gulf of Tonkin with sustained winds of around level 8 (62-74 kph) and gusts reaching level 10.

It is then expected to move north-northwest at some 15 kph while gradually weakening later in the day.

Forecasts issued on Wednesday estimated a 70-percent probability that the tropical depression, or the storm if it develops, would enter the Gulf of Tonkin on Saturday and directly affect Vietnam's northeastern coastal provinces.

The interaction between the tropical convergence zone and the tropical depression is likely to trigger widespread moderate to heavy rainfall across northern Vietnam from July 4 to 7.

Due to the impact of the tropical depression, strong winds and powerful waves are hitting the northern East Vietnam Sea, including the waters around Hoang Sa.

Scattered rains and thunderstorms are forecast to batter several parts of Vietnam late on Thursday afternoon.