Jim Andrews

Share |

Tropical Storm Gaemi a Flooding Rain Threat to Vietnam

October 02, 2012; 8:24 AM

The newest western Pacific tropical storm could bring flooding rain to central Vietnam late in the week.

Monday's tropical depression over the South China Sea was upgraded and dubbed Tropical Storm Gaemi early Tuesday, local time, thus becoming one of two named tropical storms under way at the time.

Tropical Storm Maliksi was located at sea more than 1,000 miles south of Tokyo, Japan.

The center of Geami was more than 350 miles west-northwest of Manila, Philippines. Having winds of about 45 mph, Gaemi was drifting southeastward at about 5 mph.


Tuesday's tale of two storms: Tropical Storm Gaemi, between the Philippines and Vietnam, left; and Tropical Storm Maliksi, south of Japan, right. Taken 1330 UTC Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012. (Japan Meteorological Agency -- JMA)

Weak steering winds will allow Gaemi to drift somewhat erratically over open water for at least another two to three days.

Eventually, easterly steering winds are forecast to begin over the region, thereby aiming Gaemi towards Vietnam.

Warm tropical surface water spread throughout the South China Sea will help to bring about strengthening of this tropical cyclone. It is too early to know whether Gaemi will ultimately become a typhoon before the time of landfall.

The month of October marks the height of the rainy season across the middle of Vietnam, and tropical storms making landfall from the South China Sea account for a significant fraction of region's rainfall between September and November.

Owing to the uplift of moist tropical cyclone winds overriding the mountain spine of eastern Indochina, flooding rainfall can -- and sometimes does -- reach 1 to 2 feet within 24 to 48 hours.

Latest numerical forecast model scenarios suggest the Gaemi can reach central Vietnam Friday or Saturday, bringing torrential rain and winds of tropical storm intensity.

The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of AccuWeather, Inc. or AccuWeather.com

Comments

Comments left here should adhere to the AccuWeather.com Community Guidelines. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

More International Weather Blog

  • Europe Warmth This Week

    April 23, 2013; 8:34 AM ET

    Warmth will wax June-like in some capitals. Many others will experience the feel of mid summer for at least one day.

  • UK Windstorm Into Thursday

    April 17, 2013; 7:08 AM ET

    Localized severe wind gusts near 60 mph (about 95 km/h) will whip Ireland, Wales, northern England and southern Scotland.

  • UK Windstorm First of Two This Week

    April 16, 2013; 7:22 AM ET

    Among the highest observed winds as of Tuesday were gusts of 60 mph at Lechars and 56 mph at Dundee, both in eastern Scotland. In Edinburgh, gusts hit 53 mph.

  • UK Cools as Europe Warmth Shifts

    April 15, 2013; 8:27 AM ET

    Much of England, France, the Low Countries and even Germany warmed 5 to as many as 10 degrees C (9-18 degrees F) above normal Sunday. Put another way, daytime warmth was more fitting of early to midsummer than mid-April over a wide area.

About This Blog

Jim Andrews
The International weather blog from AccuWeather.com is written by Jim Andrews who has more than 10 years experience forecasting outside the United States.