Tropical Storm Noul brought wind and rain to central Vietnam on Thursday night.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Noul was located at latitude 16.7°N and longitude 107.2°E which put it about 45 miles (75 km) north-northwest of Da Nang, Vietnam.  Noul was moving toward the west at 22 m.p.h. (35 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

The distribution of thunderstorms and rain around Tropical Storm Noul was asymmetrical.  The strongest thunderstorms and the heaviest rain were on the western side of Noul.  Tropical Storm Noul was moving under the southern part of a large upper level ridge over Asia and the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The ridge was producing strong easterly winds which were blowing toward the top of Noul.  Those winds were causing moderate vertical wind shear and they were also the cause of the asymmetrical distribution of rainfall.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 150 miles (240 km) from the center of circulation.

The upper level ridge will steer Tropical Storm Noul quickly toward the west.  Noul will across central Vietnam and southern Laos on Friday.  Tropical Storm Noul will drop locally heavy rain over parts of central Vietnam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand.  Flash floods could occur in some locations.