Storm Sonca roars into Vietnam, heading for Thailand
BOTH Thai and Vietnamese meteorological departments warned today (July 24) that tropical storm Sonca which is currently 350 kilometers east of Vietnamese city of Vinh will make landfall over central Vietnam tomorrow.
It will likely move pass through Laos, the upper Northeast and the North of Thailand bringing abundant rain with isolated heavy to very heavy rain over Thailand. Details of affected areas are as below:
North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.
Northeast: Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen Yasothon, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani.
East: Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
During 27-28 July
North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Tak.
Northeast: Loei, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Chaiyaphum and Nakhon Ratchasima,
East: Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
Vietnamese weathermen said that Storm Sonca is the fourth large-scale storm coming in from South China Sea this year and it is expected to bring heavy rain to many cities in the middle of the country. Mountainous areas in the north face forest runoffs and landslides over the next few days.
Meanwhile Weather.com said the north Pacific Ocean pulled off an impressive feat with eight tropical cyclones spinning at one time on Saturday, July 22, something that hasn’t been accomplished in more than four decades.
In the central and eastern Pacific Ocean on Saturday were two named storms, Fernanda and Greg, along with Tropical Depression Nine-E and Tropical Depression Ten-E. The two tropical depressions eventually went on to become Hilary and Irwin.
Meanwhile, the western Pacific Ocean had Noru, Kulap, Roke and Tropical Depression Eight-W all spinning in parts of that basin. Tropical Depression Eight-W would later become Tropical Storm Sonca.
Although it’s not unheard of to see multiple tropical cyclones at the same time, this is impressive on any scale.
Eight tropical cyclones have not roamed the north Pacific Ocean simultaneously since 1974, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, a tropical scientist at Colorado State University.
The Pacific Ocean is a hot bed for multiple tropical cyclones to occur at the same time given its expansiveness.
On average, 36 tropical cyclones form each year in the northwestern Pacific and southwestern Pacific basins, combined. Another 16-17 form each year in the central and eastern north Pacific basin.
The majority of the eight tropical cyclones observed on Saturday will never affect land directly. The exceptions are Roke, which brought heavy rain to southeast China, and Sonca which could soak China’s Hainan Island.
CAPTION:
Top: Satellite image of Tropical Storm Sonca. Photo: Cyclocane.com
Inset: The path Tropical Storm Sonca is taking as it heads for Thailand. Photo: Wunderground.com
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