Heavy rains expected as tropical low pressure increases strength

The location and projected direction of the low pressure system. (Photo: nchmf.gov.vn)

At 1 am this morning, the low pressure’s centre was at roughly 18.5-19.5 degrees north latitude and 106.5-107.5 degrees east longitude, in the area south of the Gulf of Tonkin. Due to the influence of the low pressure, on Co To Island there were heavy rains and thunderstorms.

It is forecast that the low pressure system’s situation will remain almost unchanged and tend to strengthen in power. At 1 am on July 16, its centre will be approximately 100-150 km off the coast of provinces from Ha Tinh to Thanh Hoa, with the strongest wind near its eye at 40-50kph.

Due to the influence of the tropical convergence zone combined with the subtropical high pressure, heavy rains poured onto Hoa Binh province and other localities in the Northeast and North Central Coast yesterday, with the average rainfall of 20-50mm, and even 59mm in Hoa Binh, 68mm in Cua Ong (Quang Ninh), 64mm in Bac Ninh, 69mm in Hoai Duc district (Hanoi), and 64mm in Tinh Gia (Thanh Hoa).

From now until July 17, torrential rains are expected in the North and central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Quang Tri.

Against the complex development of rains and floods, the Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control issued a telegraph last night urging Hoa Binh Hydropower Company to continue discharging water from its hydropower lake.

The committee also warned the northern mountainous localities and provinces from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh against flash floods and landslides in their areas.

It also asked the local Steering Committees for Disaster Prevention and Control to closely monitor forecasts and warnings of heavy rains, floods, flash floods and landslides to timely inform the locals so that they may take preventive measures, as well as inspecting and reviewing high risk areas of flash floods and landslides in preparation for the response plans./.

NDO