Typhoon Vamco strengthened to the equivalent of a major hurricane east of Vietnam on Friday. At 4:00 p.m. EST on Friday the center of Typhoon Vamco was located at latitude 15.7°N and longitude 111.9°E which put it about 275 miles (440 km) east of Da Nang, Vietnam. Vamco was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 954 mb.

Typhoon Vamco rapidly intensified into the equivalent of a major hurricane over the East China east of Vietnam on Friday. The circulation contracted around a small clear eye. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong 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. Storms near the core were generating strong upper level divergence which was pumping mass away fro the typhoon. The removal of mass allowed the pressure to decrease rapidly which contributed to the rabid intensification.

Winds to typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Typhoon Vamco. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Typhoon Vamco was 25.1. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 16.7 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 41.8. Vamco was capable of causing significant damage.

Typhoon Vamco will move through an environment that will become less favorable for intensification during the next day or so. Vamco will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C. So, there will be enough energy in the upper ocean to support an intense typhoon. However, northeasterly winds will transport drier air over eastern Asia toward the western side of Typhoon Vamco. Vamco is likely to start to weaken when the drier air is pulled into the core of the circulation.

Typhoon Vamco will move south of a high pressure system over the eastern Asia. The high will steer Vamco toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track Typhoon Vamco will approach the coast of Vietnam north of Da Nang in about 24 hours. Vamco is likely to still be a typhoon when it reaches Vietnam. Typhoon Vamco will drop heavy rain over Vietnam, Laos and northeastern Thailand. The rain will fall on saturated surfaces and floods will occur in those areas.