Storm Noru to deliver torrential downpours starting Tuesday

From Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday, Da Nang and the provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Kon Tum should expect rainfall of 250-400 mm, hydro-meteorological stations say.

Quang Binh, Binh Dinh and Gia Lai would record rainfall of 100-300 mm, they add.

From Wednesday to Friday, the rainfall will expand towards the northern parts of the central region; as well as the southern parts of northern region.

Da Nang, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai have sounded natural disaster alarms at the highest levels.

As of 6 a.m. Monday, there were around 177 vessels with over 1,390 fishermen still operating within the storm’s zone of impact, according to border guard forces – 87 off Quang Ngai, 65 off Binh Dinh, 18 off Quang Nam and 7 off Da Nang.

Localities from Quang Binh to Binh Thuan have already prepared plans to evacuate over 860,000 people. Vessels are banned from going out to sea and decisions to suspend road use and allowing students to stay home were issued Monday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed authorities to tell vessels and fishermen to look for shelter before the storm’s arrival, evacuate people from dangerous areas and prepare response plans to floods and erosion.

As of Monday noon, Noru was about 650 km away from the Paracel Islands with a maximum wind speed of 133 kph. It is likely to get stronger as it moves towards the island, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.

The storm is expected to continue to move west on Monday at 20-25 kph, and could get stronger because of warm sea regions. By 10 a.m. Tuesday, the storm would be in the southeast region of the Paracel Islands, with a maximum wind speed of 149 kph.

International forecasters expect the storm to eventually make landfall in central Vietnam, specifically Da Nang and its southern neighbor Quang Nam. However, predictions about the storm’s intensity vary, with some saying its maximum wind speed can go as high as 162-175 kph as it gets closer to the shore.

Rough seas and strong winds should be expected starting Tuesday in many sea regions, weather experts have warned. Localities from Quang Binh and Quang Ngai face the risks of coastal and riverine flooding.

Storm Noru, one of the strongest storms in the last two decades to hit Vietnam, is the fourth to enter the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) this year. It passed through the Philippines Sunday night. Five rescue workers have been confirmed dead in Bulacan Province.