Five storms have already entered the East Sea in the first half of the 2026 storm season, bringing unusual tracks, slow movement and even a rare return from apparent collapse.
Only halfway through the 2026 storm season, the East Sea has already seen five storms displaying unusual behavior, from abrupt changes in direction and prolonged wandering to regeneration after weakening.
Saudel’s remnants regenerate, becoming fifth East Sea storm
Storm Saudel, the fifth storm to enter the East Sea this year, followed an almost circular track. Source: NCHMF
Early this morning, September 3, Storm Saudel, the fifth storm to enter the East Sea this year, moved northward, crossed 23 degrees north latitude and exited the East Sea.
Saudel had previously developed over the northwestern Pacific, strengthening into a storm before moving toward China. After making landfall, it weakened into a low-pressure area.
On the morning of August 31, the low-pressure system moved southward into waters east of China’s Leizhou Peninsula, reorganized into a tropical depression and then strengthened into the fifth storm over the East Sea on the morning of September 1.
Meteorologists say storms typically regenerate after crossing islands in the ocean. A storm reviving after making landfall over a large landmass is considered extremely rare.
Saudel’s track has been equally unusual.
After forming, the storm moved south to southwest before turning northeast and heading back toward the northern East Sea, rather than moving into the Gulf of Tonkin and toward Vietnam’s mainland as storms in the region often do.
Forecasts indicate that over the next one to two days, the storm will make another sharp turn toward the west to west-southwest, returning close to the area where it formed before weakening over coastal waters off Guangdong, China, around September 4.
The unusual movement of Saudel is linked to its interaction with Storm Krovanh, which is active over the northwestern Pacific and forecast to head toward southern Japan.
This interaction between two storms, combined with Saudel’s highly unusual track, once again highlights the unpredictable nature of tropical weather this year.
Storm Narra lingered over Gulf of Tonkin for five days
Storm Narra followed a twisting path over the Gulf of Tonkin, bringing heavy rain to many parts of northern Vietnam. Source: VNDMS
Among the storms to have entered the East Sea this year, Storm Narra, the fourth, displayed perhaps the most unusual track, lingering for a record period of around five days.
It was also the only storm to form a distinctive loop in its path within the relatively confined waters of the Gulf of Tonkin.
According to Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Narra at times moved at only around 3-5 kilometers per hour while repeatedly changing direction.
Instead of quickly crossing the Gulf of Tonkin and making landfall, the storm at times moved in circles, changed course and even headed back toward the outer part of the gulf.
Narra maintained strong circulation over the Gulf of Tonkin for several days, at times reaching Level 8-9 winds with gusts of Level 11.
Its prolonged presence brought persistent heavy rainfall to numerous northern provinces and cities, particularly in the Northeast and northern mountainous areas, triggering other natural hazards including flooding, flash floods and landslides.
Meteorologists attributed Narra’s unusual movement to weak and complex steering conditions.
The storm developed within the Intertropical Convergence Zone, while large-scale atmospheric currents failed to establish a stable direction to guide its movement.
Storms refuse to follow familiar patterns
Storm Kujira, the third storm of the season, formed in early August southeast of the northern East Sea but quickly moved out of the area and weakened without directly affecting Vietnam’s mainland.
Meteorologists said Kujira’s rare trajectory was linked to Super Typhoon Dolphin over the northwestern Pacific.
Dolphin’s immense strength and size drew Kujira toward it, contributing to the smaller storm’s short lifespan and highly unusual track.
Earlier, Storm Noul entered the East Sea in late July.
At its strongest, Noul reached Level 12 winds with gusts of Level 15, but it also had relatively little impact on Vietnam’s mainland. After moving across the sea, the storm headed toward China and weakened.
The 2026 storm season is forecast to bring fewer storms overall, but their behavior could remain difficult to predict. Photo: L.D
The season had already produced noteworthy developments with its first storm, Maysak.
Forming from a low-pressure area in the central East Sea, Maysak strengthened into a storm before moving south of China’s Hainan Island, entering the northern Gulf of Tonkin and making landfall in the Mong Cai area of Quang Ninh Province on the evening of July 4.
At landfall, it brought Level 8-9 winds with gusts reaching Level 11-12.
A long and unpredictable storm season remains
These developments are unfolding as El Nino is forecast to exert a clearer influence on weather conditions during the final months of 2026.
The phenomenon typically brings higher temperatures and tends to reduce rainfall, but that does not necessarily mean Vietnam will experience fewer extreme weather events.
On the contrary, amid unstable atmospheric conditions, storms may develop with tracks and intensities that are difficult to predict.
Meteorological authorities forecast that in September, the number of storms and tropical depressions active over the East Sea and making landfall in Vietnam is likely to be around the long-term average.
The long-term September average is 2.4 storms and tropical depressions over the East Sea, with 1.2 making landfall in Vietnam.
“What is concerning is not simply how many storms there are, but how they form, move and evolve,” meteorologists cautioned.
Residents and local authorities are therefore advised to closely monitor official forecasts and proactively prepare response measures to ensure safety.
Vietnamnet.vn
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