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The typhoon is moving west-northwest at 30–35 kph, nearly twice the average forward speed, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said.
At 7 p.m., the storm’s center was about 900 km southeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Archipelago with maximum sustained winds of 133 kph.
The center forecasts that by 7 p.m. Saturday, Bualoi will be over the Hoang Sa area with winds of 133–149 kph and a forward speed of around 35 kph. By 7 p.m. Sunday, the eye is expected to be offshore from the Nghe An–Hue sea area with winds near 149 kph, before moving toward Ha Tinh–Quang Tri and weakening into a tropical depression over northern Laos.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, Bualoi packed 108 kph winds on Friday night and could strengthen to about 144 kph as it approaches Vietnam's central coast. The Hong Kong Observatory projects a track into Ha Tinh–Quang Tri with winds around 145 kph.
Forecasters warn that the storm's fast motion, strong intensity and broad wind field may bring a combination of severe hazards, including gale-force winds, torrential rain, river flooding, flash floods, landslides and coastal inundation.
From Friday night, the northern and central East Sea (including the Hoang Sa area) will see strong winds; areas near the center may experience 102–149 kph winds and waves 6–8 m high, building to 8–10 m near the core.
From Saturday evening, seas from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai will see winds rising to 49–61 kph with 3–5 m waves, increasing to 74–88 kph from early Sunday.
From early Sunday, the northern Gulf of Tonkin (including Bach Long Vy, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai and Hon Dau islands) will have winds up to 61 kph, later strengthening to 88 kph, with waves 3–5 m. Storm surge of 1–1.5 m is possible along the north-central coast.
From Sunday afternoon, areas from Thanh Hoa to northern Quang Tri are forecast to see winds of 49–133 kph depending on proximity to the eye, with the risk of downed trees, damaged houses and power lines. Coastal areas from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh and from southern Quang Tri to Hue City may experience 49–61 kph winds.
From Sunday to Tuesday, northern and central Vietnam down to Hue City will likely receive 100–300 mm of widespread rain, locally over 400 mm. The northern delta and Thanh Hoa–Ha Tinh could see 200–400 mm over three days, with some spots exceeding 600 mm.
Since the start of the year, the East Sea has recorded 10 storms and four tropical depressions. Most recently, Ragasa was a super typhoon over open water but weakened to a tropical depression as it neared Vietnam, causing no damage. The Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change expects 4–5 more tropical cyclones in the final three months of the year, with 2–3 likely to affect Vietnam directly, mainly the central region.
