A tropical depression is drifting west, north-westerly toward the East Sea, and forecasters say it could potentially become a typhoon and cross-over northern Vietnam later this week.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting posted tropical storm watches on January 9 saying the depression packed winds of 40-60km per hour that are moving in a north-westerly direction at a speed of 10-15km per hour.

The Centre also warned of a cold spell hitting northern localities of the country on January 10-12 while torrential rains and thundery showers with a potential for flash flooding are forecast in the north and the north-western mountainous areas. 

The storm's strength and path will depend on whether it passes over land and weakens, and on how it interacts with atmospheric wind patterns. The Centre is advising all people in north and central Vietnam to keep an eye on the tropical depression.

VOV