Typhoon Usagi heading to Vietnam’s waters, unlikely to affect mainland

As of 10 a.m. Thursday, Usagi was located over the northern waters of Luzon Island in the Philippines, with maximum wind speeds reaching 117 kph. The storm is moving northwest at 15 kph and is expected to enter the East Sea within hours.

Due to unfavorable conditions, including low sea surface temperatures and dry, cold air, Usagi is projected to exit the East Sea and move toward Taiwan. By Saturday morning, it is forecast to pass over southern Taiwan with maximum sustained winds of 88 kph. Over the following 24 hours, it will weaken as it moves northeast and remains in the eastern waters off Taiwan.

Meteorological agencies, including the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Hong Kong Observatory, agree that Usagi will not affect Vietnam. The Japan Meteorological Agency predicts Usagi will enter the East Sea with wind speeds of 90 kph before heading toward Taiwan, while the Hong Kong Observatory estimates wind speeds at 120 kph.

Typhoon Usagi slammed into the Philippines’ on Thursday, as authorities rushed to evacuate as many as 40,000 people from flood-prone areas, AFP reported.

The fifth storm to strike the country in just three weeks, Usagi made landfall in the town of Baggao in Cagayan province early Thursday morning, packing winds of 175 kph an hour, the national weather service said.

Another storm, Manyi, is forecast to enter Vietnam’s waters around Nov. 17-18.

A series of storms have hit the region in recent weeks.

Storm Toraji, which formed in the East Sea closely after Yinxing entered in early November, has weakened into a low-pressure system. This system is expected to drift southwest and gradually dissipate.

On Oct. 27, Storm Trami made landfall in Thua Thien Hue-Da Nang in central Vietnam, bringing heavy rains that caused eight deaths and 14 injuries.

(VN EXPRESS)