The national weather center has announced that a tropical depression currently located in the northern East Sea may strengthen into Storm Number 1 of 2026 tonight or early tomorrow. At 1 AM on July 2, the center of the tropical depression was positioned at approximately 16.8 degrees North latitude and 115.2 degrees East longitude, about 400 kilometers east of the Paracel Islands.

According to Mr. Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the maximum wind speed near the center of the tropical depression is currently at level 7 (50-61 km/h), with gusts reaching level 9. The system is moving northwest at a speed of about 25 km/h.

Forecasts indicate that by tonight or early tomorrow morning, the tropical depression could intensify into a storm with a strength of level 8 and gusts at level 9, moving west-northwest at approximately 15 km/h. Experts predict that by July 4, the storm will enter the Gulf of Tonkin, directly impacting the northeastern coastal areas.

In the following 48 to 72 hours, the storm is expected to continue moving northwest at a rate of about 15 km/h. Meteorological authorities have warned that vessels operating in the eastern part of the northern and central East Sea will face strong winds, high waves, and hazardous weather conditions in the coming days.

From July 4 to 7, widespread heavy rainfall is anticipated in the northern region, with a high risk of thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, landslides, and localized flooding. The meteorological agency has also indicated that due to the El Niño phenomenon, the number of storms in the East Sea this year is expected to be lower than the average, with approximately 8 to 10 storms forecasted, of which 3 to 5 may impact the mainland, particularly from July to September in the northern region and from October to November in the central region. There is also a possibility of storms affecting the southern region in the latter part of the year.