Tropical Storm Fengshen moved toward Vietnam on Monday. At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Fengshen was located at latitude 17.3°N and longitude 112.2°E which put the center about 290 miles (465 km) east-northeast of Da Nang, Vietnam. Fengshen was moving toward the southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 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 993 mb.
Drier air was pulled around the western and southern sides of Tropical Storm Fengshen on Monday. Bands in the western and southern sides of Fengshen’s circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the northern and eastern sides of Tropical Storm Fengshen. Storms near the center of Fengshen still generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical storm. The removal of mass in the upper levels was nearly equal to the inflow of mass in the lower levels of the atmosphere. So, the surface pressure remained relatively constant on Monday.
The circulation around the northern side of Tropical Storm Fengshen was interacting with a high pressure system over China. So, tropical storm force winds extended out much farther in the northern half of Fengshen. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 250 miles (400 km) in the northern side of Tropical Storm Fengshen. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) in the southern half of Fengshen’s circulation.
Tropical Storm Fengshen will move through an environment marginally favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Fengshen will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28°C. It will move under the middle of an upper level ridge that is over the South China Sea. The upper level winds are weak near the middle of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Drier air will continue to be pulled around the northern and western sides of Fengshen’s circulation. The drier air will inhibit intensification. Tropical Storm Fengshen is likely to maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours.
Tropical Storm Fengshen will move around the southern side of a high pressure system that is over China. The high pressure system will steer Fengshen toward the west-southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Fengshen will approach the coast of Vietnam near Da Nang in 36 hours.
Tropical Storm Fenshen will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to central Vietnam. Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.
