Storm Wipha nears northern Vietnam with heavy rain, strong winds and flood risk

Tropical Storm Wipha (Storm No. 3) is closing in on northern Vietnam after entering mainland southern China early Sunday, bringing heavy rains, strong winds, and heightened risks of flash floods and landslides across large parts of the country.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 4 a.m. on Monday, the storm's center was located at 21.5 degree North latitude and 110.4 degree East longitude, just over northern China’s Leizhou Peninsula, about 275 km east of the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coast.

The storm is moving west-southwest at speeds of 15-20 km/h, packing maximum sustained winds of level 9 (75-88 km/h) and gusts reaching level 11 (up to 117 km/h).

By early Tuesday, Wipha is expected to strengthen, with winds reaching level 10-11 and gusts up to level 14 as it moves west-southwest at around 15 km/h. Areas most affected will include the northwestern Gulf of Tonkin and the coastline from Quang Ninh to Hung Yen. The national disaster risk level is set at Level 3.

The storm is forecast to weaken into a tropical depression over inland areas from Hung Yen to Thanh Hoa by early July 23, producing wind levels of 6-7 and gusts up to level 9.

By Thursday, the system is expected to continue west-southwest and weaken into a low-pressure area over northern Laos.

Coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Nghe An are expected to see wind speeds of 7-9 from the evening of Monday, with gusts near the storm’s center reaching 10-11 or even 14 in some locations. Inland areas may experience winds of level 6, gusting up to level 8.

The northern Gulf of Tonkin, including Bach Long Vi, Co To, and Cat Hai islands, is under severe storm conditions, with wind levels up to 12 and gusts as high as 15. Waves in these areas are forecast to reach 4-5 meters. Conditions in the southern Gulf of Tonkin and the northern East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) are also highly dangerous.

Scattered thunderstorms and rough seas are affecting much of Vietnam’s southern coast and island regions, with strong southwest winds reported in locations including Phu Quy, Song Tu Tay, and Huyen Tran.

From Monday to the night of Tuesday, heavy to very heavy rain is expected across the northeast, Red River Delta, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An, with some areas seeing over 450 mm. Other northern provinces and Ha Tinh may also see up to 250 mm.

The intense rainfall brings a high risk of flash floods and landslides, especially in mountainous areas. Overnight, severe rain caused localised flooding in Dien Bien, Son La and Quang Tri provinces.

Emergency orders

On Sunday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an emergency directive urging ministries and local authorities to prepare urgently for Storm No. 3. The order emphasizes swift action to protect lives and property.

Authorities are instructed to evacuate people from unsafe areas, suspend fishing, tourism, and marine transport in affected zones, reinforce key infrastructure like power and communications, and deploy rescue teams and supplies under the four on the spot principle.

Local authoritiess must ban vessels from going to sea and ensure no one remains on board during the storm.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha is overseeing the national response. Ministries have dispatched teams to high-risk provinces, while media agencies are boosting public alerts.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has also issued an urgent directive for airports and airlines to prepare for storm Wipha, prioritizing safety and minimizing flight disruptions.

Airports in affected areas, including Van Don in Quang Ninh province, are ordered to inspect infrastructure, prevent flooding, and maintain 24/7 operations. Airlines must monitor weather updates, adjust flight schedules, and coordinate closely to ensure safety for passengers and crews.

The aviation sector warns that flight times may change as the storm develops, with safety as the top priority.

Vietnam Airline Group cancels flights as typhoon Wipha nears

The Vietnam Airlines Group, encompassing Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vasco, announced comprehensive flight modifications for Monday to ensure safety for passengers and crew members as typhoon Wipha intensifies its approach towards Vietnam’s northern coast, VNA reported.

Vietnam Airlines canceled several key domestic routes, including flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong (VN1188, VN1171, VN7188, VN7189, VN7056, and VN7057), as well as routes to Con Dao island (VN1856 and VN1857).

Meanwhile, Pacific Airlines rescheduled its flights between HCMC and Hai Phong (BL6440 and BL6441), assuring take-off and landing at Cat Bi Airport in Hai Phong city before 12 p.m. on Monday. It also canceled flights BL6520 and BL6521 on the same route the same day.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, all Vietnam Airlines Group flights from Cat Bi Airport will depart after 12 p.m.

Additionally, several domestic and international flights on Monday and Tuesday may experience cascading delays and schedule disruptions due to typhoon Wipha’s impact.

Flight times may continue to be adjusted depending on the storm’s progression, with updated information will be communicated via the airline’s official channels and passenger contact details provided in booking records.

Vietnam Airlines also advises passengers to keep seat belts fastened throughout the flights, particularly during periods of adverse weather. Even when the seatbelt sign is off, remaining buckled is a crucial safety precaution to mitigate the risks of unexpected turbulence.

According to the Aviation Meteorological Centre under the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation, typhoon Wipha maintains its rapid trajectory toward the Vietnamese coast, maintaining wind speeds of level 11, with gusts up to level 14.

Between 9 p.m. and midnight on Monday, the storm's eye is approximately 250 km from Noi Bai International Airport.

The airport will experience moderate to heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms during Monday-Tuesday, reducing visibility to as low as 1.3 km and triggering widespread heavy precipitation warnings.