Newly named Tropical Storm Pakhar already showed an impressive cloud swirl on Thursday, March 29, 2012. Southern Vietnam is to the left (west).(NRLMRY/MTSAT-2 image) By Jim Andrews, Senior Meteorologist
Mar 29, 2012; 7:54 AM ET
An unusual late-March tropical storm has potential to send torrential rain and strong winds ashore in Vietnam before the end of the week.Tropical Storm Pakhar, which took shape over the southern South China Sea Thursday, could landfall in southern Vietnam by Sunday.
Excessive rain and flooding could spread over a wide area along and north of Pakhar's direct path. Damaging winds will be possible as well.
Thursday, the center of Tropical Storm Pakhar was within about 350 miles, or 570 km, east of Ho Chi Minh City, according to various official forecast agencies. At the time, highest sustained winds were reckoned to be at least 40 mph, or 65 km/h, with storm movement towards the west-northwest.
A stretch of coast east of Ho Chi Minh City will be at greatest risk of a storm landfall, as shown by forecast tools available to AccuWeather.com
Flooding rainfall to at least 12 inches, or 30 cm, will be possible near the storm's track, but also northward along the coast to Nha Trang or even Qui Nhon.
Any widespread heavy falls of rain would be unusual, as March into April marks the latter part of the yearly dry season in southern Vietnam. For instance, normal monthly rainfall in March is less than 2 inches, or 50 mm. April is also normally a rather dry month along the coast, but can bring increasing rainfall inland.
The western North Pacific Ocean tropical basin is the most prolific in terms of number of named storms each year. However, March and April are within the seasonal lull in tropical cyclones.
On average, a named storm happens about once ever three years in March. April storm frequency is about two-fold that of March.
No comments:
Post a Comment