HCMC — Storm Fengshen is expected to enter the East Sea within the next 24 hours after making landfall in the Philippines, according to weather forecasters.
The Philippine weather bureau PAGASA said early on October 18 that tropical depression Ramil had strengthened into a tropical storm named Fengshen. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 65 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 80 kph, moving west at 20 kph.
Fengshen is forecast to make landfall or pass near Catanduanes Island on the afternoon or evening of October 18 before heading toward Aurora or Isabela provinces on Luzon Island on October 19. After crossing Luzon’s mountainous terrain, the storm is expected to enter the East Sea on the morning of October 20, where it will be designated as the 12th to affect Vietnam.
Vietnam’s National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) said at 7 a.m. on October 18 that the storm’s center was located east of the central Philippines. Winds near the center reached 62–74 kph, with gusts up to 88 kph.
The storm is projected to move west-northwest at 20 kph toward eastern Luzon, intensifying to 75–88 kph by October 19. It is expected to enter the northern East Sea on October 20 and could strengthen further to 89–102 kph by October 21.
From October 19, strong winds of 50–61 kph are forecast in the eastern part of the northern East Sea, increasing to 62–88 kph near the storm’s center. Wave heights may reach 2.5 to 5 meters. Between October 20 and 22, the northern East Sea, including Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, could experience winds up to 103–133 kph.
Vietnam’s National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention has urged 15 coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Lam Dong to prepare for the storm.
The Hydro-Meteorological Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment warned of heavy rainfall in central Vietnam from October 19, with precipitation ranging from 70 to 150 millimeters and localized totals exceeding 350 millimeters. Some areas in Hue could receive more than 500 millimeters of rain.
Moderate to heavy rains are expected to continue through late October as a cold air mass and upper-level easterly winds combine, potentially causing flooding in river basins from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai provinces.
Authorities advised travelers and maritime operators to monitor weather updates closely. Sea travel, island tours, and flights to and from the northern parts of the Philippines may be affected starting October 19.
