Tropical Storm “Haikui” weakening on its way toward Vietnam

Tropical Storm "Haikui," the 24^th named storm of the 2017 Pacific typhoon season, is weakening on its way toward Hainan, China and central Vietnam. Decay and eventual dissipation could occur by November 13. However, whats left of the storm is expected reach central Vietnam early November 14 (UTC), bringing yet another wave of rain to the flood-stricken country.

As of 09:45 UTC on November 11, the center of Tropical Storm "Haikui" was located about 530 km (330 miles) S of Hong Kong, and 880 km (550 miles) E of Hue, Vietnam. The system had maximum sustained wind speed near the center of 74 km/h (46 mph) and gusts to 111 km/h (69 mph), according to RSMC Tokyo. The system is slowly moving W and has minimum central pressure of 998 hPa.

Haikui is expected to maintain this general motion and intensity over the next 24 hours and at 06:00 UTC on November 13 (48 hours), its center is expected to be located 220 km (135 miles) S of the southernmost tip of Hainan and 170 km (105 miles) E of Da Nang, Vietnam. 

Tropical Storm "Haikui" forecast track by JMA at 09:00 UTC on November 11, 2017

By 06:00 UTC on November 14 (72 hours), Haikui is expected to be a tropical depression, located on the border of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Locally heavy rain is expected to accompany this storm, but widespread flooding, as seen with the landfall of Typhoon "Damrey" last week, is not expected. This does not mean, however, that isolated flooding and landslides are out of the question as the ground of central Vietnam is still saturated.

Residents of Hainan, central Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are advised to follow the development of this storm system.

Featured image: Tropical Storm "Haikui" at 09:50 UTC on November 11, 2017. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, CIRA