Typhoon Goni is forecast to weaken when it makes landfall in central Vietnam on November 5, but is predicted to cause heavy rains to a wide swathe of central Vietnam from Thua Thien - Hue to Phu Yen provinces, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

As of 7:00 am on November 4, Goni, the tenth storm to strike Vietnam in 2020, was located 300 kilometers to the southeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, with sustained wind speeds of 60-75 kilometers per hour, the center said.

A map showing the direction of typhoon Goni, which is expected to bring heavy rains to the central and Central Highlands localities of Vietnam in the next days. Photo: NCHMF

Goni may continue on the west-southwest drift at 10 kilometers for the next 24-48 hours before it weakens into a tropical depression. It is forecast to approach the mainland from Quang Ngai to Phu Yen provinces and become a low pressure zone.

Between November 4 and 6, the rainfall is expected to reach 100-200 millimeters in the central provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and the northern part of the Central Highlands; 300-400 millimeters in localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Quang Ngai.

The NCHMF added that from November 5 to 7, localities from Nghe An to Quang Tri could see rainfall of 150-300 millimeters.

Water levels could reach alert level 3 out of 4 in rivers of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai; exceed alert level 2 in rivers of localities from Nghe An to Thua Thien-Hue, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and the two Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum.

Aside from bringing heavy rains, the typhoon is predicted to pack strong winds that pose threats to operating fishing boats.

The central Vietnam has been battered by intense rains, serious flooding and deadly landslides throughout October, killing at least 159 and damaging houses, crops and roads. There were four storms and one tropical depression in the central region in October alone, the highest number in a month in the country’s recorded meteorological history.

According to weather experts, there will be 2-3 more tropical typhoons in the East Sea (South China Sea) in November.

It is forecast that 4-6 cold spells will affect Vietnam this month, with stronger ones arriving in the final days of the month.