On the afternoon of August 21, Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecasting Division at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, updated on the low-pressure area near the Philippines and weather developments in the coming days.

At 1 p.m., the low-pressure system was centered at approximately 14.5-15.5°N latitude and 126.5-127.5°E longitude, east of the Philippines.

Within 24-36 hours, the system is expected to move west-northwest at 15-20 km per hour, entering the East Sea, and may strengthen into a tropical depression.

According to Huong, after forming, there is a 60-70% chance it will intensify into a storm and move quickly toward the Gulf of Tonkin within 2-3 days.

Due to its circulation, strong winds and rough seas are forecast for the northern and central East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, as well as the Gulf of Tonkin. Vessels in these waters are advised to take precautions.

From August 25, northern Vietnam and provinces from Thanh Hoa to Hue could see heavy to very heavy rainfall across large areas.

In the immediate term, from the evening of August 21 to August 22, the northern mountainous region will experience moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms, with rainfall ranging from 40-100 mm, and some areas receiving over 250 mm. Other parts of northern Vietnam and Thanh Hoa will see scattered showers and storms, while Gia Lai to Lam Dong and the southern region will experience rainfall of 20-40 mm, with local heavy rain exceeding 80 mm.

Warnings were issued for flash floods, landslides, hail, lightning, and strong winds.

Looking ahead, from the night of August 23 to August 31, the northern region is forecast to have widespread rain, especially from August 25-27 when the tropical depression or storm may approach the Gulf of Tonkin. Provinces from Thanh Hoa to Hue are likely to see heavy to very heavy rainfall, with localized extreme downpours.

The South Central Coast, Central Highlands, and southern provinces are also expected to continue having scattered showers and thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon and evening.

Experts warn that under climate change, extreme and dangerous weather patterns such as short but intense rainfall, flash floods, and landslides are becoming more frequent. Authorities and residents are advised to closely monitor official weather updates, adjust production plans accordingly, and ensure the safe operation of reservoirs to protect downstream communities.

Bao Anh