Storm Mulan heads toward northern coast

Localities in northern Vietnam, particularly coastal ones, are being warned to brace for heavy rain triggered by tropical storm Mulan.

Mulan will be the second storm entering the East Sea this year, which is heading toward the area from Quang Ninh province to Hai Phong city.

According to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday, the storm was located 480 kilometers east-southeast of Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai town. The wind speed near the storm center was 62-88 kph.

It is forecast to move in west-northwesterly direction at a speed of 15-20 kph in the next 24 hours.

At 7 a.m. on Thursday, Mulan would be just 70 kilometers south of Mong Cai (Quang Ninh) and 110 kilometers east of Hai Phong.

Under the influence of the storm, the northern part of the East Sea, including Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, will experience strong winds with four-to-six-meter-high waves and rough seas.

The northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, including the island districts of Co To and Bach Long Vi, will likely see strong wind at 62-74 kph near the storm center and two-to-four-meter-high waves from Wednesday evening. Coastal localities are also urged to watch out for high tides.

From Wednesday afternoon to Thursday, the northern region and north central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An should expect heavy rain between 100-200 millimeters, with certain areas recording rain levels up to 250 millimeters.

From 7 a.m. Aug. 11 to 11 a.m. Aug. 12, Mulan is expected to move west-northwest, with a speed of 15 kph. It will weaken into a tropical depression over the northern region of Vietnam.