Experts warn of heavy rain, rising floods and the possibility of storm No. 13 in the East Sea

Meteorological experts warn that prolonged heavy rains from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai are causing rivers to rise, posing a high risk of flash floods and landslides. At the same time, a tropical depression is strengthening and could become storm No. 13 in the East Sea in the next few days.

Authorities are working hard to rescue people in flooded areas in Hoi An. (Photo: TUNG LAM)

Central region continues to have very heavy rain, many rivers exceed alert level 3

On the evening of November 1, the Department of Hydrometeorology ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) issued information on the rain and flood situation in the central region and assessed the possibility of storm No. 13 appearing in the East Sea in the coming days.

Due to the influence of cold air combined with the tropical convergence zone connecting with the low-lying vortex in the area between the East Sea and the humid easterly wind zone operating strongly above, from the night of October 31 until now (November 1), the provinces from Ha Tinh to Da Nang city and the east of Quang Ngai province have had moderate rain, heavy rain, and in some places very heavy rain and thunderstorms.

Rainfall measured in some areas is quite large: Ha Tinh 100mm-200mm, some places more than 280mm; Quang Tri 50mm-100mm, some places 233mm; Hue city 50mm-100mm, some places 166mm; Da Nang 70mm-140mm, some places 277mm; Quang Ngai 80mm-220mm, some places more than 360mm.

Currently, water levels on rivers in the Central region are rising again. Gianh River (Quang Tri) is higher than alert level 1; Bo River, Huong River (Hue City) is above alert level 2; Vu Gia River, Thu Bon River (Da Nang) fluctuates between alert levels 1-2; Tra Khuc River (Quang Ngai) is at alert level 2.

Director Nguyen Thuong Hien chaired a meeting on rain and flood forecasting on the afternoon of November 1.

According to forecasts, from now until November 4, cold air will continue to strengthen, the tropical convergence zone will be active, so the area from Ha Tinh to Da Nang city and the east of Quang Ngai province will have heavy to very heavy rain.

Total rainfall in Hue city, Da Nang and eastern Quang Ngai is 300mm-600mm, locally over 800mm. Ha Tinh and Quang Tri areas have rainfall of 200mm-350mm, locally over 500mm; southern Nghe An and western Quang Ngai 70mm-150mm, some places over 250mm. Rain tends to decrease from November 5 to November 6.

Due to heavy rain, from November 2 to November 5, floods will appear on rivers from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai and the Central Highlands. Flood peaks on major rivers are forecast to reach: Ngan Sau, Ngan Pho (Ha Tinh) at alert level 2-3; Gianh, Kien Giang, Thach Han (Quang Tri) at alert level 2-3 and above alert level 3; Bo, Huong (Hue city) at alert level 3 and above alert level 3; Vu Gia, Thu Bon (Da Nang) at alert level 2-3; Tra Khuc, Ve (Quang Ngai) at alert level 2-3 and above alert level 3.

Floods on the Se San River reached alert levels 1-2; small rivers, upstream in Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa reached alert levels 1-2 and above alert level 2.

Warning of high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas of provinces from Ha Tinh to Gia Lai, especially in Ha Tinh (47 communes and wards), Quang Tri (30 communes and wards), Hue city (19 communes and wards), Da Nang (62 communes and wards), Quang Ngai (52 communes and wards) and Gia Lai (36 communes and wards).

The possibility of strong storms forming in the East Sea

The Department of Hydrometeorology said that a tropical depression is currently active in the eastern Philippines, at 1 p.m. on November 1 at approximately 9.9 degrees north latitude and 138.4 degrees east longitude. It is forecasted that from the night of November 1 to the morning of November 2, this depression will likely strengthen into a storm.

Around November 5, the storm will enter the East Sea and become storm number 13. This is forecast to be a strong storm, when moving through the Truong Sa archipelago, it can reach level 12. Around November 7, the storm is likely to directly affect the mainland of Vietnam, focusing from Da Nang city to Khanh Hoa. The storm can cause strong winds and heavy rain over a wide area in the Central Central, South Central and Central Highlands regions from the night of November 6 to November 9.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huong, Head of Weather Forecast Department, National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported and analyzed rain and flood forecasting.

The Department of Hydrometeorology noted that the storm has not yet formed and is still affected by many large-scale atmospheric factors, as well as terrain when passing through the Philippines, so the direction of movement and intensity may still change. Localities need to closely monitor forecasts and update regularly to proactively respond.

On the afternoon of November 1, at the headquarters of the Department of Hydrometeorology, Director Nguyen Thuong Hien chaired a meeting on rain and flood forecasting. Concluding the meeting, Director Nguyen Thuong Hien requested units to increase human resources, focus on monitoring and unify information throughout the system before issuing forecast and warning bulletins. At the same time, special attention should be paid to early warning of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas to ensure safety for people and downstream areas.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/chuyen-gia-canh-bao-mua-lon-lu-dang-va-kha-nang-xuat-hien-bao-so-13-tren-bien-dong-399429.html