The low-pressure area in the central East Sea has strengthened into a tropical depression this morning and is forecasted to approach the Paracel Islands in the next two days.
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that at 7 AM, the tropical depression was at strength level 6, with maximum wind speeds of 49 km/h and moving northwest at a speed of 5-10 km/h. It is expected that today the tropical depression will maintain its direction and intensity but will move faster, approximately 10 km/h; by 7 AM tomorrow, it will be located in the eastern area of the northern and central East Sea.
Tropical depression forming in the East Sea. (Photo: Disaster Monitoring System).
Subsequently, the tropical depression will change direction to west-northwest at a speed of 10-15 km/h. By 7 AM on July 21, it is forecasted to be over the northeastern waters of the Paracel Islands, with wind speeds of 6-7, gusts reaching level 9.
Due to the influence of the tropical depression, the eastern waters of the northern and central East Sea are expected to experience heavy rain, thunderstorms, winds of 6-7, and wave heights of 2-4 meters.
In a dispatch on the afternoon of July 19, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development urged coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Binh Thuan to closely monitor the developments of the tropical depression; to account for and inform vessels about the depression’s movement to proactively avoid it.
This is the second tropical depression to form in the East Sea within the past week. Previously, on July 13, the low-pressure area in the East Sea strengthened into a tropical depression and, after two days, made landfall, causing heavy rain in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Thua Thien Hue.
Meteorological agencies have noted that storms this year are arriving later, with a surge expected between September and November. It is forecasted that there will be 11-13 storms and tropical depressions in the East Sea, of which 5-7 will impact the mainland of Vietnam.
