TD 01W Auring reformed near southern Vietnam, dropping heavy rain

Tropical Depression 01W, named Auring by PAGASA, has reformed along the coast of southern Vietnam and is dropping heavy rain. The system will make landfall after 06:00 UTC on January 16, 2017, cross the southern Vietnam into the Gulf of Thailand and dissipate.

The first tropical depression of 2017 NW Pacific typhoon season - TD 01W (Auring) - formed near Mindanao, Philippines on January 7, 2017, and hit the country on the following day. It crossed the Philippines into the South China Sea and started falling apart within just 24 hours. 

Tropical Depression "Auring" on January 8, 2017. Credit: NASA Terra/MODIS

At 15:00 UTC on January 15, Auring was located about 222 km (138 miles) ESE of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The system was moving to the WNW at 7.4 km/h (4.6 mph) with maximum sustained winds near 74 km/h (46 mph). Maximum significant wave height was 2.4 m (8 feet).

Tropical Depression 01W - Auring - JTWC forecast track on January 15, 2017

TD01W - Auring - satellite image acquired January 15, 2017. Credit: NASA/NOAA/DoD Suomi NPP/VIIRS

The system is expected to make landfall over the southern tip of Vietnam after 06:00 UTC on January 16, move across the southern Vietnam and into the Gulf of Thailand, where it will finally dissipate.

72 hours of rainfall accumulation over southern Vietnam by 12:00 UTC on January 15, 2017. Credit: NASA/JAXA GPM

According to the Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, Auring will cause rough seas along the coastline from the central city of Da Nang to the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, with winds blowing between 39 and 61 km/h (24 - 38 mph).

Under the combined effects of the low pressure area and a cold front, unseasonal rain will dampen localities in the south-central and southern regions, including Ho Chi Minh City, from January 14 to 16.

Featured image: Tropical Depression 01W on January 15, 2017. Credit: NASA/NOAA/DoD Suomi NPP/VIIRS