Bebinca roars in bringing lots of rain
ALL regions of Thailand will be hit with isolated torrential downpours from today August 16, 2018 till Saturday August 18 as tropical storm Bebinca moves westwards with maximum sustained winds of about 70 km/hr and hits upper Vietnam at a speed of 16 km/hr tomorrow, the Thai Meteorological Department said in its Number 23 warning issued early this morning.
Bebinca will then decline into a tropical depression and a low-pressure cell respectively to cover Laos by Saturday August 18. Affected areas are as follows:
August 16-18, 2018:
North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsnulok and Tak.
Northeast: Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Mukdahan.
East: Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
South: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khirikhan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket.
August 19, 2018:
North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Sukhothai and Tak.
East: Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
South: Ranong, Phang nga and Phuket.
A strong southwesterly monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand leading to 2-4 meters high waves in the Andaman Sea but above 4 meters in thundershower areas, and 2-3 meters high in the Gulf. All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats keep ashore until August 20. Residents along the coast should beware of the inshore surge.
Meanwhile Accuweather.com said last evening that tropical storm Bebinca will bring several days of heavy rainfall to parts of China and Vietnam into this weekend.
The storm, which is currently located just east of the Leizhou Peninsula in the South China Sea, will slowly track westward in the coming days.
This track will take the tropical storm across the Leizhou Peninsula, just north of Hainan, and into the Gulf of Tonkin before making a final landfall in northern Vietnam.
Interaction with land is expected to keep Bebinca from reaching typhoon strength as it meanders near or over land this week; however, the slow movement of the storm will bring a significant risk for flooding.
Bebinca will also bring rough seas, which will threaten shipping interests in the region.
Wind damage will be localized and largely limited to tree damage and power outages due to wind gusts of 65-80 km/h (40-50 mph).
The heaviest rainfall through Thursday morning will be across northern Hainan and the Leizhou Peninsula where 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rainfall is expected with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 300 mm (12 inches).
This magnitude of rainfall will likely result in widespread flooding and travel disruptions across the region.
The coastal region southern Guangxi province will endure daily downpours through Friday that will produce localized flooding and travel delays. Total rainfall of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) is expected in these areas.
Improvement is expected across the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan later Thursday as Bebinca continues westward and sets its sight on northern Vietnam.
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Top: A map showing the direction Bebinca is taking. Image: Accuweather.com
In-text: On August 14, NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite flew over tropical storm Bebinca moving west over western Hainan Island, China and mainland China. Image: NASA/NOAA Worldview
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