Storm Mulan to bring heavy rains to northern Vietnam

The storm, internationally known as Mulan, lay over the northeastern region of the Paracel Islands, about 320 km to the southeast of China’s Hainan Island at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Its maximum wind speed was at 74 kph, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Within the next 24 hours, the storm would move to the north, before likely switching to the northwest at 15-20 kph and may gain strength over time. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the storm would be around 290 km to the east-southeast of Quang Ninh’s Mong Cai, with a maximum wind speed of 74 kph.

Within the next 48 hours, the storm would move west-northwest at 15 kph, before devolving into a tropical depression over northern Vietnam. Its maximum wind speed at the time would be 49 kph.

From Wednesday night to Thursday, the coastline from Quang Ninh to Hai Phong should expect strong winds. From Wednesday afternoon to Friday, northern Vietnam regions, and the north central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An should expect rain levels between 100-200 mm, with certain areas recording rain levels up to 250 mm.