Northeastern Vietnam faces days of heavy rain as a tropical depression over the Gulf of Tonkin strengthens and repeatedly changes direction.

A tropical depression north of China’s Hainan Island is moving toward the Gulf of Tonkin and could strengthen into a storm within the next 24 hours, bringing rough seas and winds gusting up to 102kph.

Vietnam is heading toward a warmer-than-normal winter as El Nino strengthens, disrupting rainfall, storms and seasonal weather patterns across the country.

A tropical depression could strengthen to levels 6-7 as it approaches the Gulf of Tonkin, while parts of northern and north-central Vietnam face more than 200mm of rain.

The tropical depression over the East Sea could strengthen to level 7, with gusts reaching level 9, over the next 24 hours as it slows and heads toward China’s Hainan Island, bringing rough seas.

Vietnam is heading into a potentially very strong El Nino as forecasters warn of above-average temperatures, rainfall shortages in some regions and unpredictable weather extremes.

Hanoi and 17 other localities are preparing for torrential rain from August 17-21, with more than 450mm possible in some areas.

A spell of torrential rain is forecast to sweep northern Vietnam and parts of north-central Vietnam from August 17-21, with some areas expected to receive more than 450mm.

Hanoi and many northern provinces and cities are enduring an intense heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 38°C in some areas. Hot weather is forecast to persist across northern and central Vietnam in the coming days.

Thunderstorms across northern and central Vietnam are rapidly easing, with a widespread heatwave likely to develop from August 9. Actual outdoor temperatures could feel hotter than 40°C.

The tropical depression over the eastern Gulf of Tonkin is moving slowly east-southeast and is forecast to weaken into a low-pressure area on August 8.

A tropical depression over the southeastern waters of the northern East Sea has strengthened into Tropical Storm Kujira, becoming Vietnam's third named storm of 2026.

Weather forecasters have warned of widespread heavy rain across northern Vietnam, with some areas expected to receive more than 300 mm over three days.

Vietnam is expected to experience sharply contrasting weather patterns in August as a strengthening El Niño brings hotter temperatures nationwide, heavier rainfall in the north and below-average precipitation across much of the south.

Super Typhoon Dolphin continues tracking toward eastern China and is not expected to enter the East Sea, but forecasters warn its circulation will strengthen southwest monsoon winds and create rough seas across the region next week.

Northern Vietnam is facing another month of severe weather as Super Typhoon Dolphin strengthens offshore.

A widespread spell of heavy rain is sweeping across many parts of Vietnam. In the mountainous north, locally intense downpours are forecast to continue, heightening the risk of flash floods and landslides.

Noul, the second storm to enter the East Sea this year, could rapidly strengthen to force 11-12 as it tracks west-northwest toward southern China.

A strengthening El Niño could cut short the rainy season in southern Vietnam, accelerating water shortages and allowing saltwater to penetrate deep into the Mekong Delta.