Typhoon Yagi strengthens on its path to northern Vietnam

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7 a.m. this morning, Yagi lay centered over the northern waters of the East Sea, approximately 520 km east of China's Hainan Island.

It is moving westward at a speed of 10 kph.

By 4:00 a.m. Friday, Yagi is expected to be 210 km from Hainan Island, with wind speeds ranging from 184-201 kph, the super typhoon levels.

The super typhoon will then skirt China’s Leizhou Peninsula and enter the Gulf of Tonkin late Friday night or early Saturday. At this point, wind speeds are forecast to decrease to around 134-166 kph.

Maintaining its direction and speed, the typhoon is expected to make landfall in the Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coastal area on Saturday and move deeper into northern Vietnam, affecting the entire region including Hanoi.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that Yagi's wind speeds currently stand at 180 kph, with a peak expected at 198 kph on Thursday afternoon. The Hong Kong Observatory has classified Yagi as a super typhoon, anticipating wind speeds to reach 210 kph by Thursday afternoon. The U.S. Navy's weather service predicts that the typhoon will reach 205 kph on Thursday afternoon before passing the Leizhou Peninsula.

International meteorological stations concur that Yagi's trajectory will shift slightly northward towards the Leizhou Peninsula, instead of passing through the strait between the peninsula and Hainan Island as previously predicted. This adjustment means that the typhoon will encounter more friction with land.

Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, warned that even before Yagi's eye reaches Vietnam, the northern region could experience thunderstorms and lightning.

The peak period of impact will be from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, with heavy rain and very strong winds anticipated across the mainland.

The northern and north-central regions, particularly the coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ninh Binh, are expected to be the hardest hit by strong winds and heavy rain.

In the next 24 hours, the northern East Sea will experience strong winds ranging from 103 kph to 149 kph, with waves reaching 7-9 meters in height.

On land, from Friday night through Monday morning, the northern and north-central regions will experience heavy rainfall between 100-300 mm, with some areas to be dumped with more than 500 mm. This could result in flooding in low-lying areas, flash floods in small rivers and streams, and landslides on steep slopes.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued a directive on Tuesday, instructing northern and north-central provinces to prepare proactively. Coastal areas such as Hai Phong and Quang Ninh issued warning flares Wednesday night, urging boats and ships to return to shore for shelter. These provinces will impose a ban on maritime activities on Thursday.

Yagi is the third storm to enter Vietnam’s waters this year.