Typhoon Matmo intensifies, downpours forecast for northern Vietnam from Sunday night

Typhoon Matmo is likely to make landfall in the area between the northern Vietnam province of Quang Ninh and China's Guangxi around Monday afternoon, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

The typhoon is moving north-northwest with a maximum sustained wind speed of 133 km/h, with level-15 gusts (167-183 km/h). As of 4 p.m. Saturday, it is approximately 290 km northeast of Hoang Sa Special Administrative Zone (Spratly Islands).

“Typhoon Matmo has a wide circulation, so even before it makes landfall or has a direct impact, it can still induce thunderstorms which could significantly affect residents and properties, particularly in the Gulf of Tonkin and across the northern region,” said the NCHMF’s head of weather forecasting department Nguyen Van Huong.

Heavy rainfall is expected in the northern mountains and midlands from Sunday night until Tuesday, with rainfall totals ranging from 150-250 mm, and some areas exceeding 400 mm.

The northern Vietnam delta region to the central province of Thanh Hoa are forecast to have moderate to heavy rain.

Hanoi is unlikely to experience strong winds from the typhoon but can expect downpours from early Monday morning until Tuesday night.

Explaining the typhoon’s intensification upon entering the East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, Huong noted that the typhoon encountered relatively favorable conditions during its movement.

The current sea surface temperature in the East Sea is around 28-29 Celsius degrees, which is more conducive to typhoon intensification compared to the average threshold of 26-27 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, the low wind shear at sea allowed moisture to accumulate, contributing to the typhoon’s structural development.

Matmo is expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours. However, as it moves past the northern part of China’s Leizhou Peninsula and enters the Gulf of Tonkin, increased land friction and higher wind shear in the region is forecast to weaken the typhoon.

It is the 11th typhoon to enter the East Sea this year.