Torrential rainfall triggered by the storm Tokage, measuring 200-400mm, is predicted to hit the central coastal provinces stretching from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa between Wednesday and Friday.

The warning was issued by the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting this morning.

Landslides and flash floods are forecast to engulf areas near the local rivers in the provinces at the same time, the centre said.

After Friday, heavy rains are expected to pour down on the provinces from Thua Thien Hue to Nghe An, the centre added.

According to the centre, by 4am this morning, storm Tokage – the ninth tropical storm to form over the East Sea this year -- was 610km to the south of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago, with strongest wind speed of 90km per hour in its eye.

The storm is moving west at 15km per hour and is expected to weaken as a tropical low-pressure system. It has caused the waters in the northern part of the East Sea to be choppy, including in the Hoàng Sa (Paracel) Archipelago.

Meanwhile, a cold spell will likely lead to very low temperatures in the mountainous areas and the delta region in the north, with temperatures dropping to six degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius, respectively, since Wednesday.

The cold spell will last at least three days, the centre said.

Due to the cold spell, heavy rains are predicted to blanket the provinces from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai from tomorrow. — VNS