After crossing over the Philippines, Storm Podul is now heading for north-central Vietnam and will affect areas including Hanoi this weekend.
The weather system weakened to a tropical depression as it hit the Philippines, but has strengthened again into a tropical storm as it heads towards Hainan Island and Vietnam across the East Sea, AccuWeather reports.
According to forecaster vigilante Hanoi Weatherdude, Storm Podul is “growing and gaining circulation. Moving through Philippines already...This tropical storm will hit the northern VN coast around Friday or Saturday.”
“Please monitor and prepare for heavy rain this weekend from Hue up to the northern provinces…,” he added. “There is a chance it could slow down before reaching the coast too, so this would mean more prolonged rain. Effects of this storm will be felt starting Thursday. Could affect flights Friday.”
It’s been a relatively quiet season for storms this year. Earlier this month, the first major storm of the summer to hit the north left at least 10 people dead and many more missing.
Last year, 181 people were killed by storms in Vietnam, while in 2017, 16 tropical storms hit Vietnam, leaving 389 people dead or missing and injuring 668 others. The hardest-hit areas were generally in northern and central regions.
[Photoa via Dan Tri/NCHMF]
