Around 4 a.m. on June 12, the eye of Tropical Storm Wutip, the season’s first typhoon, is forecast to be over the eastern waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, significantly impacting the coastal provinces of northern Vietnam.
Meanwhile, central Vietnam and the northern Central Highlands will continue to experience heavy rainfall, with the rain zone expanding as far north as Ha Tinh.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7 a.m. today (June 12), the storm's eye was located at approximately 17 degrees North latitude and 110.4 degrees East longitude, over the western part of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.
The strongest winds near the storm’s center reached level 8-9 (62-88 km/h), with gusts up to level 11. The storm was moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of 10-15 km/h.
Forecast for the next three days: By the morning of June 13, the storm is expected to approach the southern area of Hainan Island (China), strengthening to level 10 with gusts up to level 13, marking its peak intensity.
On the morning of June 14, Wutip is expected to move toward the Leizhou Peninsula in China, with winds weakening slightly to level 9 and gusts at level 11. However, both domestic and international meteorological centers anticipate that before reaching the Leizhou Peninsula, the storm may veer toward the eastern Gulf of Tonkin.
By 4 a.m. on June 14, the storm’s center will likely be over the eastern Gulf of Tonkin, sustaining intensity levels of 9-10 with gusts up to level 12.
By the morning of June 15, the storm is projected to shift northeast and gradually weaken into a low-pressure area over southern China.
Given this predicted path and intensity, Storm Wutip is expected to have a substantial impact on Vietnam’s mainland.
In terms of rainfall, from last night through early this morning (June 12), the central provinces experienced heavy to very heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, while the Central Highlands saw moderate to heavy rain with localized downpours. The areas with the heaviest rainfall included Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam.
Between 7 p.m. on June 11 and 3 a.m. on June 12, rainfall reached over 240mm in some locations, with Bach Ma (Hue) recording 366.8mm, Hoa Hiep Bac (Da Nang) 333.8mm, and Tan Hiep (Quang Nam) 240.2mm.
Forecasts indicate that today through June 13, central provinces from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai will receive heavy to very heavy rain, with widespread totals between 100-200mm and some areas exceeding 350mm. Ha Tinh and the northern Central Highlands will experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with localized downpours ranging from 30-80mm, and some locations seeing more than 150mm.
There is a high risk of intense rainfall exceeding 200mm in just six hours, raising concerns about flash floods, landslides, and urban flooding in low-lying areas.
Additionally, the danger zone at sea over the next two days includes the northwestern part of the East Sea (including the Hoang Sa Archipelago), offshore areas from Quang Tri to Quang Ngai, and the Gulf of Tonkin. The disaster risk level is currently rated at level 3.
At sea, the region near the storm's center will experience strong winds at level 9–10, with gusts reaching level 13, waves between 4–6 meters high, and very rough seas. Starting the night of June 12, the Gulf of Tonkin will see winds increasing to level 6–7, with the storm’s center reaching level 8–9 and gusts up to level 11. Wave heights in this area are expected to reach 2–4 meters.
All vessels operating in the danger zones mentioned above face potential threats from thunderstorms, tornadoes, strong winds, and large waves.
Storm Wutip developed from a low-pressure area over the East Sea, rapidly intensifying into a tropical depression and then into a typhoon. It is the first typhoon of the East Sea this year and also the first in the northwest Pacific region. Given the storm’s complex and unpredictable behavior, residents in at-risk areas are advised to closely monitor official updates and take proactive measures for disaster prevention.
