According to the Central Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting Center, as of 04:00 on November 9, the center of Typhoon Haiyan (also known as Storm No. 14) is located at approximately 12.5 degrees North latitude and 117.3 degrees East longitude, about 360 km northeast of Song Tử Tây Island (part of the Spratly Islands).
The maximum wind speed near the center of the storm is estimated to be at level 15 to 16 (which is between 167 to 201 km per hour), with gusts exceeding level 17.
Typhoon Haiyan is considered one of the strongest storms in the history of meteorology in both the world and Vietnam.
Image of the path and position of Typhoon Haiyan
It is forecasted that in the next 24 hours, the storm will move rapidly between the west and west-northwest, traveling about 30 to 35 km per hour. By 04:00 on November 10, the center of the storm is expected to be located at approximately 15.2 degrees North latitude and 110.2 degrees East longitude, over the waters of Thừa Thiên Huế – Bình Định provinces. The maximum wind speed near the center of the storm will be at level 14 to 15 (which is between 150 to 183 km per hour), with gusts reaching level 16 to 17.
In the next 24 to 48 hours, the storm is expected to change direction to northwest and north-northwest, moving along the Central provinces at a speed of about 30 km per hour. By 04:00 on November 11, the center of the storm is forecasted to be located at approximately 19.1 degrees North latitude and 104.9 degrees East longitude, over the mountainous regions of the North Central provinces. The maximum wind speed near the center of the storm will be at level 9 to 10 (which is between 75 to 102 km per hour), with gusts reaching level 11 to 12.
In the following 48 to 72 hours, the storm is expected to change direction to between northwest and north-northwest, moving at about 15 km per hour and gradually weakening into a tropical depression.
Due to the influence of the storm’s circulation, the area in the middle of the East Sea (including the waters between the Spratly and Paracel Islands) will experience strong winds of levels 10 to 12, while the area near the storm’s center will see winds of levels 14 to 16, with gusts exceeding level 17. The sea will be extremely rough.
