This morning (July 23), Typhoon No. 2 made landfall in the Quang Ninh – Hai Phong area. As the storm moved deeper into northern Vietnam, its impact zone expanded. Heavy rainfall is expected to peak today in the northern region and Thanh Hoa, with particularly strong gusts in the northeastern part of the country.
At 4 AM this morning, the eye of the storm was located over the coastal area of Quang Ninh-Hai Phong, very close to the shore. The maximum wind speed near the eye of the storm reached levels of 8-9 (62-88 km/h), with gusts up to level 11. In recent hours, the storm has been moving slowly northwest at a rate of about 10 km/h.
Due to the effects of Typhoon No. 2, Bach Long Vi Island recorded winds at level 10, gusting to level 12, while Co To Island experienced winds at level 6, gusting to level 9. At Cua Ong (Quang Ninh), winds reached level 6, gusting to level 7, and at Dam Ha (Quang Ninh), winds were also at level 6, with gusts up to level 9.
The northeastern coastal region experienced moderate to heavy rain last night and early this morning, with some areas seeing very heavy rainfall, such as Cat Ba (Hai Phong) with 215 mm and Van Don (Quang Ninh) with 108 mm.
Forecasts this morning indicate that Typhoon No. 2 will move inland in the Quang Ninh – Hai Phong area, then slowly shift at a rate of only about 5-10 km/h, sweeping across the northeastern region and gradually weakening into a tropical depression. By 4 PM this afternoon, the center of the tropical depression will be over the northeastern region with a strength of level 6, gusting to level 8.
Forecast path and impact zone of Typhoon No. 2.
In the evening and overnight, the tropical depression will move in a west-northwest direction at a speed of about 10 km/h, deepening into the northern mainland of Vietnam and gradually weakening into an area of low pressure. By 4 AM on July 24, the center of the low pressure area will be in the northern mountainous region with a strength dropping below level 6.
As a result of Typhoon No. 2, the waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (including Bach Long Vi and Co To Islands) will continue to experience winds of level 6-7 this morning, with areas near the eye of the storm experiencing level 8-9 winds, gusting to level 11. The sea will be very rough, with waves reaching heights of 2-4 meters. The coastal waters of Quang Ninh-Hai Phong will see waves reaching heights of 2-3 meters.
The meteorological agency warns that, on the afternoon of July 23, the coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Nam Dinh will experience high tide, with water levels at Hon Dau reaching 3.8-4.0 meters and Cua Ong 4.6-4.8 meters, slowing the flood drainage process in rivers and causing flooding in low-lying coastal and riverside areas.
On land in the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong area this morning, winds reached levels of 6-7, with areas close to the eye of the storm reaching level 8, gusting to level 10. The areas of Lang Son, Bac Giang, and Thai Binh will experience winds of level 5, with some areas reaching level 6, gusting to level 7.
Also due to the influence of Typhoon No. 2, from early morning on July 23 until the end of July 24, the northern region and Thanh Hoa will experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with localized very heavy rain expected, totaling 100-200 mm in the northeastern region, with some areas exceeding 300 mm, and in the northwest and Thanh Hoa from 50-100 mm, with some areas exceeding 200 mm.
Heavy rain covering the northern region today.
The meteorological agency warns of a very high risk of flooding in low-lying areas and urban regions of the northern delta and coastal provinces. There is also a risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous regions, particularly in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Yen Bai, Son La, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, and Thanh Hoa.
Additionally, this afternoon and evening, the area from Nghe An to Quang Tri will also experience scattered rain and thunderstorms, with localized heavy rain. The Central Highlands and Southern regions will also see rain and thunderstorms due to enhanced southwest monsoon activity, with rainfall amounts from 15-30 mm, and some areas exceeding 70 mm.
Typhoon No. 2 formed from a tropical depression in the Central Eastern Sea and strengthened into a typhoon on the morning of July 21. This storm has exhibited very complex and unpredictable behavior. Initial assessments suggested it could be a weak storm. However, after interacting with Hainan Island without significant weakening, it regained strength over the Gulf of Tonkin yesterday, becoming a powerful storm with a clearly defined eye. Due to its near-shore strength and very slow movement, Typhoon No. 2 is expected to have widespread and prolonged effects across northern provinces of Vietnam.
