Typhoon Vamco Moves Toward Vietnam

Typhoon Vamco moved toward Vietnam on Thursday. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Typhoon Vamco was located at latitude 15.5°N and longitude 115.0°E which put it about 480 miles (775 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam. Vamco was moving toward the west-northwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 972 mb.

One day after causing widespread damage on Luzon, Typhoon Vamco moved across the South China Sea toward Vietnam. An eye was present at the center of Vamco, but there were clouds in the eye. The eye was surrounded by a broken ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Typhoon Vamco. The size of the circulation around Vamco increased after it crossed Luzon. Winds to typhoon force extended out 75 miles (120 km) from the center of circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center.

Typhoon Vamco will move through an environment that could allow it to maintain its intensity for another 24 to 36 hours. Vamco will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. It will move under the southern portion of an upper level ridge over eastern Asia. The ridge will produce easterly winds which will blow toward the top of the Typhoon Vamco. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear, but the shear will not be too strong. Northeasterly winds will transport drier air toward the western side of Typhoon Vamco when it moves closer to land in 24 to 36 hours. Vamco could start to weaken if the drier air is pulled into the core of the typhoon.

Typhoon Vamco will move south of a high pressure system over the eastern Asia. The high will steer Vamco toward the west-northwest during the next several days. On its anticipated track Typhoon Vamco will approach the center coast of Vietnam in about 36 hours.