Storm Pabuk forms over Spratly Islands, heads toward southern coast of Vietnam
VOV.VN - A tropical depression over the northwestern waters of the Spratly Islands intensified into a storm on December 23 afternoon, and is heading towards the south-central and southern regions of Vietnam.
At 1:00 PM, Pabuk, the 10th of its kind to operate in the East Sea this year, was located in the northwestern part of the Spratly Islands, packing winds of 62-74 kmh near its centre.
The storm is expected to move west-northwest at a speed of 5-10 kmh in the next 24 hours before changing its course to west-southwest and weakening into a tropical depression.
By 1:00 PM on December 25, the center of the tropical depression is projected to churn near the coast from Phu Yen to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces, with winds decreasing to 50-61kph.
The weather pattern will cause rough seas, and vessels operating in the hazardous areas should prepare for thunderstorms, strong winds, and high waves, warned meteorologists.
On December 23 - 24, localities from Da Nang city to Khanh Hoa province are anticipated to experience moderate to heavy rain, with torrential downpours of 40-120 mm, and some areas exceeding 200 mm.
The Central Highlands may also see significant rainfall of 30-60 mm, with some areas exceeding 100 mm.
Thunderstorms may bring lightning, tornadoes, and strong winds, while heavy rain could lead to flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods on small rivers and streams, and landslides on slopes.
Authorities and residents are advised to closely monitor developments of Storm No. 10 and take necessary precautions to ensure safety.
