Tag Archives: Dong Hoi

Typhoon Vamco Brings Wind and Rain to Vietnam

Typhoon Vamco brought wind and rain to Vietnam on Saturday night. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Typhoon Vamco was located at latitude 17.3°N and longitude 107.5°E which put it about 40 miles (65 km) east of Vinh Linh, Vietnam. Vamco was moving toward the northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

The center of Typhoon Vamco was about to make landfall on the coast of Vietnam between Vinh Linh and Dong Hoi on Saturday night. Bands on the western side of Vamco were already bringing wind and rain to Vietnam. A flow of drier air from eastern Asia into the western part of the circulation around Vamco caused the typhoon to weaken as it approached Vietnam. Even though it was weaker, Typhoon Vamco was still capable of causing serious damage. Winds to typhoon force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Vamco. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 130 miles (210 km from the center.

Typhoon Vamco will bring strong winds to the coast of central Vietnam during the next few hours. Wind blowing water toward the coast will cause a storm surge north of Vinh Linh. The winds blwoing around Vamco will weaken when it moves inland. However, Typhoon Vamco will drop heavy rain over parts of central Vietnam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand. Heavy rain will fall on saturated ground and significant flooding is likely to occur.

Tropical Storm Podul Drops Heavy Rain on Vietnam

Tropical Storm Podul dropped heavy rain on Vietnam on Thursday.  At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Storm Podul was located at latitude 17.5°N and longitude 106.5°E which put it about 10 miles (15 km) northwest of Dong Hoi, Vietnam.  Podul was moving toward the west at 21 m.p.h. (34 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

Tropical Storm Podul made landfall near Dong Hoi, Vietnam on Thursday.  The structure of Podul was very asymmetrical.  Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in the western half of the circulation.  Tropical Storm Podul was moving south of an upper level ridge over eastern Asia.  The ridge was producing strong easterly winds which were blowing across the top of Podul.  Those winds were causing strong vertical wind shear and they were the reason why most of the thunderstorms were in the western half of the circulation.  As a result of the wind shear, heavy rain was already falling over Vietnam even before the center made landfall.

The upper level ridge was steering Tropical Storm Podul rapidly toward the west.  Podul will weaken quickly as it moves farther inland.  Even though Tropical Storm Podul will weaken quickly, heavy rain will fall over portions of Laos and northeastern Thailand on Friday.  Locally heavy rainfall could cause flash floods in parts of Vietnam, Laos and northeastern Thailand.