According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 10am today, December 21, the tropical depression was located in the southern sea of the South China Sea, with the strongest wind reaching 49 km/h, level 6, gusting to level 8 and moving little.
It is forecasted that by 10am on December 22, the tropical depression will maintain its intensity over the southern waters of the South China Sea, moving northeast at a speed of 5 km/h. By the evening of the same day, it will change direction to the northwest.
At 10am on December 23, the tropical depression will strengthen to level 7, gusting to level 9, located in the sea south of Truong Sa archipelago.
International meteorological stations such as Japan and Hong Kong (China) have not yet made any comments on this tropical depression.
Due to the influence of the tropical depression, the southern sea area of the South China Sea will have strong winds of level 6, gusts of level 8, and waves 3-5 m high.
From the night of December 22, the sea area south of Truong Sa archipelago will have strong winds of level 6-7, gusts of level 8-9, and waves 4-6 m high.
The meteorological agency warned that ships operating in these dangerous areas may be affected by storms, whirlwinds, strong winds and large waves.
Residents and tourists in localities forecasted to be affected by the tropical depression such as Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan... need to pay attention to the next weather forecasts to have measures to ensure safety and proactively plan travel and outdoor activities.
In December, prolonged heavy rains caused damage in many places in the South Central region, especially low-lying areas in Khanh Hoa. Most seriously, on December 15, Khanh Le Pass connecting Nha Trang - Da Lat was paralyzed due to serious landslides after heavy rains, trapping hundreds of people.
Since the beginning of the year, nine storms and one tropical depression have been active in the East Sea, including storms Prapiroon, Yagi, Soulik, Trami, and Yinxing that have directly affected mainland Vietnam.
Super typhoon Yagi is the strongest storm to hit Quang Ninh and Hai Phong this year, and affects 25 northern provinces and Thanh Hoa.
232 heavy rains caused flooding, flash floods and landslides; many thunderstorms, earthquakes, strong winds and big waves at sea.
Natural disasters left 513 people dead and missing, with total economic damage estimated at more than VND84,900 billion.
