Tropical Storm Noul, whose eye was spotted some 750 kilometers from Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago at 10 a.m. today, September 16, is forecast to hit central Vietnam two days later, with wind speeds at level 12, gusting to level 14.
In the next 24 hours, this powerful storm, the fifth to hit the country this year, is projected to move west-northwest at 15 kilometers per hour and may strengthen.
At 10.00 a.m. tomorrow, the eye of the storm will be around 300 kilometers southeast of Hoang Sa Archipelago, gusting at level 12, according to the national weather center.
In the next 48 hours, the storm is forecast to move at 20 kilometers per hour. At 10.00 a.m. on September 18, the storm might hit the central coast from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai provinces, with the strongest winds reaching levels 11 or 12 (100-135 kilometers per hour), gusting at level 14.
Due to the impact of the storm, on September 17 and 18, some provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai would experience heavy rains, with rainfall ranging from 200 to 300 millimeters.
The rainfall is expected to range from 50 to 100 millimeters in the south-central region and the north of the Central Highlands during the two-day period.
Between September 18 and 20, the northern areas, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, are likely to see medium to heavy rains with rainfall ranging from 100 to 150 millimeters, Lao Dong Online reported.
To respond to the storm, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, called a meeting with the relevant ministries, departments and localities today, Phap Luat Online reported.
He ordered the provincial and municipal authorities to keep a close watch on the developments of the storm and proactively take measures to cope with it to ensure safety for residents.
Localities should have plans in place to evacuate residents in high-risk areas and cooperate with coast guards and other relevant forces to advise ships and tourist boats to take shelter or sail out of high-risk areas. Some 500,000 locals might be evacuated due to the storm.
This article was originally published in Sgtimes