Strong winds to appear in north-central Vietnam from today afternoon due to typhoon Bualoi

Winds exceeding level 8 are forecast for the areas from Thanh Hoa province to northern Quang Tri province, starting around 4 p.m. today (Sunday), strengthening to levels 10-12 by 10 p.m. when typhoon Bualoi makes landfall.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at noon today, the typhoon was about 240 km southeast of northern Quang Tri, with maximum winds of 133 km/h, at level 12, gusting to level 15, moving northwest at 25 km/h.

In the coming hours, the typhoon is expected to shift slightly toward Deo Ngang or Deo Pass (the border of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh) and may intensify.

Because the typhoon is moving more slowly than forecast, landfall will also be later. Around 10 p.m., the typhoon is projected to be over the sea area from Nghe An to Quang Tri, at levels 12-13 with gusts up to 16, before turning west-northwest at 20-25 km/h and heading inland.

Meteorological authorities have issued a disaster risk level 4 (on a 5-level scale) for the areas from Nghe An to northern Quang Tri.

Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the southern coastal area of Quang Tri will experience winds of levels 6-7 from noon until evening. The northern part of the province will see level 8 winds, while areas near the typhoon’s eye (around Ngang Pass) will face 9-11 level winds, gusting to 14, lasting from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Ha Tinh and Nghe An will see winds of levels 6-7 from this afternoon, increasing to levels 8-9 between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., with coastal areas facing levels 10-12. Inland districts will experience strong winds from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. tomorrow (Monday).

Thanh Hoa will have winds of levels 6-7 from this afternoon, with southern Thanh Hoa experiencing levels 8-10, gusting to 13, between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Tides at Cua Hoi will peak at 2.6 m (7-8 a.m. tomorrow) and drop to 0.9 m (9-11 p.m. tonight). Water surge in the northern province of Ninh Binh to Ha Tinh is expected at 0.5-1.5 m. From southern Thanh Hoa to northern Ha Tinh, the level will be 1-1.5 m.

Cua Hoi is the name of the Lam River estuary flowing into the East Sea, the natural boundary between Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

From now until September 30 (Tuesday), rainfall across northern Vietnam and the areas from Thanh Hoa (in north-central region) to Danang (south-central region) will generally range from 100-300 mm, with some places exceeding 450 mm.

In the Red River Delta; Phu Tho province, southern Son La province, Lao Cai province (northern highlands); Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri (north-central region), rainfall will be 200-400 mm, with local areas surpassing 600 mm.

Due to heavy rain, from now until October 1 (Wednesday), many rivers in northern Vietnam and the areas from Thanh Hoa to Hue will experience flooding, with peaks reaching alert levels 2-3, and in some cases above level 3, such as on the Thao, Hoang Long, Ma, Chu, Ca, Ngan Sau, Ngan Pho, and Kien Giang rivers. Other major rivers will reach alert levels 1-2, or above level 2, including the Lo, La, Gianh, Thach Han, Huong, and Bo rivers.

Currently, provinces such as Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri have relocated residents from flood- and landslide-prone areas to schools and community centers.

Hue city has advised residents not to go outside between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the period when the tyhoon is expected to pass the city’s coastline. Four central airports — Dong Hoi, Tho Xuan, Phu Bai, and Danang — have suspended flights from September 28 (Sunda) to 29 (Monday).