According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), the tropical depression formed over the northwestern waters of Luzon Island (Philippines) and entered the East Sea last night.

As of 1:00 a.m. on September 18, the center of the tropical depression was located at approximately 19.0°N latitude and 119.8°E longitude, in the northeastern part of the northern East Sea. The strongest winds near the center reached level 7 (50–61 km/h), with gusts at level 9. The system was moving northwest at 15–20 km/h.

Over the next 24 hours, the depression is forecast to continue moving northwest at 15–20 km/h and could intensify into a storm. If it does, it will become the eighth named storm in the East Sea for the 2025 typhoon season. By 1:00 a.m. on September 19, the storm’s center will be in the northeastern part of the northern East Sea, with maximum sustained winds at level 8 and gusts at level 10.

In the following 24 hours, the storm is expected to maintain its northwestward path at around 15 km/h. By 1:00 a.m. on September 20, its center will be over the southern coastal region of Guangdong province (China), maintaining level 8 winds and level 10 gusts.

Between 48 and 72 hours from now, the storm will gradually turn westward, moving at roughly 10 km/h and weakening thereafter.

Due to the impact of the tropical depression and its potential development into Storm No. 8, strong winds of level 6–7 and gusts of level 9 are expected in the northeastern part of the northern East Sea throughout today and tonight. Areas near the storm’s center may experience winds at level 8 with gusts reaching level 10, and sea waves as high as 2.5–4.5 meters, resulting in rough sea conditions.

In the sea areas from Khanh Hoa to Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the central and southwestern East Sea (including the western parts of the Truong Sa/Spratly Islands), southwesterly winds will range from level 5 to occasionally level 6, with gusts up to level 7–8. Waves may reach 1.5–3 meters.

Additionally, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected today and tonight across the northern, central, and southern parts of the East Sea (including the Hoang Sa/Paracel and Truong Sa/Spratly archipelagos), the Gulf of Tonkin, and the coastal waters from southern Quang Tri to Ca Mau, from Ca Mau to An Giang, and over the Gulf of Thailand. The northeastern section of the northern East Sea is forecast to receive direct storm-related rainfall. Thunderstorms in these areas may bring whirlwinds, strong gusts (level 6–7), and waves exceeding 2 meters.

By tomorrow (September 19), strong winds of level 8–9 with gusts of level 10–11 and waves as high as 3–5 meters are expected in the northern part of the northern East Sea, indicating extremely rough sea conditions.

The disaster risk alert level is currently set at 2, with the northeastern area of the northern East Sea elevated to level 3. Experts warn that this region is particularly hazardous for maritime activity due to strong winds, high waves, and the risk of whirlwinds.

Bao Anh