Storm Noru strengthens, to approach Vietnam with 183 kph winds

The storm was in the southeastern region of the Paracels archipelago at 4 a.m. Tuesday, with maximum winds of 166 kph, up from 149 kph the previous night.

The National Center for Hydro and Meteorological Forecasting said the storm would continue to move west at 20-25 kph on Tuesday and could get stronger.

Its maximum wind speed could increase to 183 kph at 4 p.m. Tuesday, when it is around 300 km from Da Nang and 250 km from Da Nang’s southern neighbor Quang Nam, home to Hoi An and Cua Dai beach.

By 4 a.m. Wednesday, the storm would move a bit south, raging along the coast from Quang Tri to Binh Dinh Provinces, with maximum winds of 166 kph. It is forecast to hit central provinces in the coming hours before weakening into a tropical depression and then a low pressure zone over Thailand.

The area most affected by the storm would be Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh.

Japan weather forecasting center said the storm would make landfall from Thua Thien Hue to Binh Dinh with winds of 162 kph, and the Hong Kong center forecast that it will strengthen to a super typhoon with winds of 185 kph.

Forecast course of storm Noru towards central Vietnam as of 4 a.m. September 27, 2022. Graphics by Vietnam Disaster Management Authority