Tropical Storm Son-tinh strengthened over the East Sea on Tuesday and has its sights set on Hainan, China, and northern parts of Vietnam in the coming days.
As this storm tracks westward, the concern for flooding and local damaging winds will increase across Hainan Island Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. AccuWeather reports.
A continued westward track will then bring the greatest risk for these impacts to northern Vietnam and Laos late Wednesday into Thursday.
Mudslides may further endanger lives and property in the mountains.
Flooding rainfall will be the most widespread threat as rainfall of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) will be widespread from Hainan into northern Vietnam. This includes the Vietnam capital of Hanoi. Hardest-hit areas can expect rainfall amounts up to 250 mm (10 inches).
The extent of the risk for damaging winds will hinge on how strong the storm becomes. Interaction with Hainan will likely hinder overall strengthening and limit damaging winds to areas near and along the path of the storm.
Areas at risk for damaging winds include Hainan, China, from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and areas in Vietnam between Vinh and Thanh Hoa late Wednesday into Wednesday.
Son-tinh will weaken as it moves farther inland, ending the threat for any damaging winds before the storm reaches northern Laos.
Rough seas will also be stirred and create dangers for boaters as the storm churns across the South China Sea and Gulf of Tonkin.
All residents at risk for impacts from this budding storm are urged to closely monitor its progress. Be sure to follow the advice of local government and heed any evacuation orders in the coming days. Keep gas tanks filled and cell phones fully charged.
The storm was named Henry in the Philippines where it produced heavy rainfall across parts of Luzon earlier this week.
A man carries a girl along a flooded street in Malabon, metropolitan Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, July 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Despite Son-Tinh departing, heavy rain will continue to fall across western Luzon in the coming days, furthering the threat for flooding.
Residents in Manila will have to remain vigilant for flooding to inundate parts of the capital quickly and bring travel to a halt for a time.
Remember to avoid a potentially deadly situation by never driving or walking through floodwaters.
“In the longer range, conditions will remain favorable for tropical development over the northwestern Pacific through the end of July,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said. “There will be the chance of development later next week and next weekend to the east of the Ryukyu Islands.”
By Eric Leister