HCMC – A tropical depression in the eastern area of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands has strengthened into a storm, marking the first storm to affect Vietnam this year.
As of 7 a.m., Storm Wutip had maximum sustained winds of 74 km/h (level 8), with gusts reaching level 10. It was moving northwest at 5-10 km/h, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
By 7 a.m. on June 12, Wutip is expected to intensify to level 9 with gusts up to level 11 as it moves toward Hoang Sa islands at a speed of around 10 km/h.
By 7 a.m. on June 13, it is forecast to reach level 10 with gusts up to level 13 and be located south of China’s Hainan Island, maintaining a northwestward direction.
After passing over Hainan Island, the storm is forecast to weaken to level 9 with gusts up to level 12 by the morning of June 14, located in the waters west of China’s Leizhou Peninsula.
Under the storm’s influence, the northern and north-central areas of the East Sea will see winds strengthening from level 6 to level 9, with gusts up to level 11 and waves reaching heights of 3 to 5 meters.
Meanwhile, the south-central and southern East Sea will be affected by southwest winds at level 6-7, gusting to level 8-9, with waves of 2 to 4 meters. These regions may also face thunderstorms, waterspouts, and rough seas.
