Typhoon Tra Mi forms in the East of the Philippines, likely to strengthen into a hurricane when entering the East Sea

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that last night (October 21), a tropical depression in the eastern Philippines strengthened into storm Tra Mi (storm Trami). 

The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicts that the storm will move mainly in a West-Northwest direction. At 4:00 p.m. on October 22 , the storm's center will be located in the sea east of the Philippines. The strongest wind near the storm's center is level 8 (62-75 km/h), gusting to level 11. Waves will be 3-4 meters high.

The meteorological agency said that around October 25, the storm is likely to move into the East Sea.

From around the afternoon and night of October 24, the eastern sea area of ​​the North East Sea (east of 118.5 degrees East longitude) will have winds gradually increasing to level 8, near the storm center at level 9-10,  gusting to level 12 ; very rough seas, waves 3.0-5.0m high, thunderstorms with dangerous whirlwinds.

Location of storm No. 6 Tra Mi (Kristine) at 4:40 a.m. on October 22, 2024. (Photo: PAGASA).

In addition, Lao Dong newspaper quoted the latest storm news from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) saying that at 4:00 a.m. on October 22, the center of storm Kristine (international name Tra Mi) was at about 13.2 degrees north latitude, 127.8 degrees east longitude, 390km east of Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines.

The strongest wind near the storm center is 65 km/h, gusting up to 80 km/h and the central pressure is 994 hPa.

The storm is moving west at 15 km/h. The tropical cyclone's wind radius extends up to 680 km from the center of the storm.

Hurricane Kristine is expected to move northwest to west-northwest through Thursday (October 24) before turning west for the remainder of the forecast period.

According to the forecast track, the tropical storm may make landfall in Isabela tomorrow evening (October 23) and may leave the Philippine Forecast Area (PAR) by Friday evening (October 25).

The possibility of a change in the forecast track cannot be ruled out, depending on the movement of weather systems surrounding this tropical storm over the next few days.

Typhoon Tra Mi is expected to reach typhoon strength on October 25 when it enters the South China Sea , according to PAGASA.

Responding to storm Tra Mi about to enter the East Sea

To cope with heavy rains in the Central region and the storm that is likely to enter the East Sea, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has sent an urgent telegram to the People's Committees of coastal provinces and cities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh; the Ministries of National Defense, Public Security, Natural Resources and Environment, Transport, Industry and Trade, Information and Communications, and Foreign Affairs.

The content of the telegram requires provinces, cities and ministries to closely monitor forecast and warning bulletins; notify captains and owners of vehicles and vessels operating at sea to proactively prevent and have appropriate production plans, ensuring safety of people and property; maintain communication to promptly handle bad situations that may occur. Prepare forces and means for rescue when requested.

The above provinces and cities deploy shock forces to inspect and review residential areas along rivers, streams, low-lying areas, areas with high risk of flooding, flash floods, landslides; proactively evacuate people in dangerous areas to safe places; organize forces to guard, control, and guide to ensure safe traffic for people and vehicles, especially at culverts, spillways, deep flooded areas, fast-flowing water areas, areas where landslides have occurred or are at risk of landslides. At the same time, arrange forces, materials, and means to overcome incidents, ensuring smooth traffic on main traffic routes.

Localities organize the operation and implement plans to ensure the safety of reservoirs and downstream areas, especially small hydropower reservoirs, important irrigation reservoirs, and projects under construction; arrange regular forces to operate, regulate, and be ready to handle possible situations. At the same time, direct local radio, television, and mass media agencies to strengthen measures to inform about weather developments and natural disasters to authorities at all levels and people so that they can proactively prevent and respond.

Localities organize serious on-duty shifts (24/7), regularly report to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (through the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control).