This morning, after entering the Paracel Islands, the tropical depression intensified into a storm named Jebi. It is forecasted that in the next 2-3 days, the storm will head towards Hainan Island (China), and then into the Gulf of Tonkin.
As of 10 AM on July 31, the center of the storm was located at approximately 15.0 degrees North latitude and 115.7 degrees East longitude, about 430 km southeast of the Paracel Islands. The maximum wind speed near the center of the storm reached level 8 (which is between 62 to 74 km/h), with gusts of level 9 to level 10.
It is predicted that within the next 24 hours, the storm will primarily move west-northwest at a speed of about 10-15 km/h and may strengthen further. By 10 AM on August 1, the storm’s center is expected to be located at approximately 16.3 degrees North latitude and 113.4 degrees East longitude, over the eastern area of the Paracel Islands. The maximum wind speed near the center of the storm will reach level 9 (between 75 to 88 km/h), with gusts of level 10 to level 11.
Path and position of the storm
In the next 24 to 48 hours, the storm is likely to change its movement direction towards between west-northwest and northwest, moving at a speed of about 15 km/h. By 10 AM on August 2, the storm’s center is expected to be located at approximately 17.9 degrees North latitude and 110.7 degrees East longitude, over the southeastern waters of Hainan Island (China). The maximum wind speed near the storm’s center will reach level 9 to level 10 (between 75 to 102 km/h), with gusts of level 11 to level 12.
In the following 48 to 72 hours, the storm will continue to move in a west-northwest direction and may accelerate, moving at about 20 km/h.
Due to the influence of the storm, the sea area between the northern and central parts of the East Sea (including the waters of the Paracel Islands) will experience strong winds of levels 6 and 7, increasing to level 8, with near-center winds reaching levels 9 and 10, gusts of levels 11 and 12, accompanied by heavy rain and thunderstorms. The sea will be very rough. Tornadoes should be watched for during thunderstorms.
Additionally, due to the strong southwest monsoon, the waters from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau and the southern East Sea (including the waters of the Spratly Islands) will experience strong winds of level 5, occasionally reaching level 6, with gusts of levels 7 and 8, and heavy rain and thunderstorms. The sea will be rough, and tornadoes should be watched for during thunderstorms.
