Super Typhoon Ragasa has weakened.

One day after entering the South China Sea, Ragasa has weakened by more than one level, now at level 15-16, and is likely to make landfall in Quang Ninh - Hai Phong around noon on September 25th with wind speeds of level 8-9.

According to the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, at 10 PM on September 23rd, the center of the super typhoon was located approximately 550 km east of the Leizhou Peninsula (China), with maximum wind speeds of 201 km/h, equivalent to level 15-16, gusting above level 17, and moving in a west-northwest direction at a speed of about 20 km/h.

The storm is entering a weakening phase due to the influence of a continental high-pressure system, topographic friction, and several unfavorable meteorological conditions. It is forecast that at 10 PM tomorrow, the storm will be over the sea off the eastern coast of the Leizhou Peninsula (China), approximately 300 km east of Mong Cai ( Quang Ninh ), with maximum wind speeds of level 12-13, gusting to level 16.

Forecast of the path and affected area of ​​Typhoon Ragasa at 10 PM on September 23rd. Photo: Disaster monitoring system.

By 10 PM on September 25th, the storm was on the coast of Quang Ninh - Hai Phong , with maximum wind speeds of level 8-9, gusting to level 11. Ragasa then moved inland and weakened into a tropical depression and then a low-pressure area in the Northwest region.

The Japan Meteorological Agency forecasts that on September 24th, the typhoon will approach the Leizhou Peninsula with wind speeds of 162 km/h before entering the Gulf of Tonkin. The Hong Kong Observatory predicts the typhoon will move further north of Leizhou before entering the Gulf of Tonkin, with its center reaching Quang Ninh province on September 25th.

Due to the influence of the storm, the northern part of the South China Sea will experience strong winds of force 10-13, reaching force 14-16 near the storm's center, with gusts exceeding force 17, and waves over 10 meters high. From September 24th, the eastern part of the northern Gulf of Tonkin (including the Bach Long Vy special economic zone) will experience gradually increasing winds of force 6-7, with gusts up to force 9.

From the evening and night of September 24th, the northern Gulf of Tonkin (including the Bach Long Vy, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai special zones and Hon Dau island) will experience increasingly strong winds, reaching level 8, with waves 2-4 meters high. In areas near the storm's center, winds will reach levels 9-10, gusting to level 12, with waves 3-5 meters high. Coastal areas of Quang Ninh province will experience storm surge of 0.4-0.6 meters.

On land, from early morning on September 25th, the coastal areas of Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh experienced increasingly strong winds, reaching levels 6-7, with winds near the storm's center reaching levels 8-9, gusting to level 11; further inland in the Northeast region, winds were strong at level 5, with some areas reaching level 6, gusting to levels 7-8.

The storm will bring rain from tomorrow night until the end of the night of September 26th. Northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An will experience widespread rainfall of 100-250 mm, with some areas receiving over 400 mm. Heavy rain is likely to cause flooding in low-lying areas; flash floods on small rivers and streams; and landslides on slopes.

Satellite image of Super Typhoon Ragasa at 10 PM on September 22nd. Photo: NCHMF

Today, the Prime Minister signed a directive requesting the Party Secretaries and Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and cities from Ha Tinh northward to focus on directing measures to respond to the super typhoon, prioritizing the safety of people's lives; the safety of ships operating at sea and along the coast; protecting houses, warehouses, factories, offices, educational and medical facilities, dike systems, and dams.

The government also requested provinces and cities to review their plans and be ready to organize the evacuation and relocation of residents to ensure safety before the storm hits, and to deploy rescue and relief efforts in case of adverse situations.

The Prime Minister requested that ministries and agencies implement storm prevention and control measures according to their functions and responsibilities, emphasizing the need to avoid negligence and complacency, to monitor, update, and thoroughly understand the situation, and to implement response measures with the utmost determination, anticipating the worst-case scenario, and avoiding being caught off guard.

Storm wind levels. Graphic: Hoang Khanh

Typhoon Ragasa formed on September 18th from a tropical depression off the coast of the Philippines. Three days later, it intensified by eight levels to become a super typhoon, and by the evening of September 22nd, it reached its peak at level 17 with wind speeds of 221 km/h in the South China Sea. Ragasa surpassed Yagi in 2024, becoming the strongest typhoon in the South China Sea in the past 70 years.

Source: vnexpress.net

Source: https://baophutho.vn/sieu-bao-ragasa-giam-cap-240023.htm