Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Weather Forecasting Center, explained that while tropical depressions forming below 5°N latitude have been recorded since 1951, almost all of them tend to move westward - not eastward as in this case.

“This eastward-moving low-latitude depression is extremely rare - possibly unprecedented,” Khiem emphasized.

He also noted that although the depression is unlikely to directly impact the southern mainland, it could still affect offshore areas as it moves toward the south-central coast, where Typhoon Koto is currently located.

In the next 24–48 hours, the depression is forecast to track northeast at 10–15 km/h, passing offshore from the southern to south-central provinces. By 1:00 p.m. on November 30, it is expected to maintain wind speeds of level 7 with gusts to level 9 before gradually weakening into a low-pressure area. By December 1, it will likely sit in the northwestern part of the southern East Sea.

Typhoon Koto remains stalled in central East Sea

As of 1:00 p.m. on November 29, the center of Typhoon Koto was located in the northwestern sector of the central East Sea. Its maximum sustained winds were at level 9–10 (75–102 km/h), with gusts reaching level 13.

Koto is currently drifting northward at a very slow pace of 5 km/h. Forecasts suggest the storm will linger in the central East Sea over the next three to four days, maintaining intensity while continuously changing direction.

Today, it moves north. Tomorrow (November 30), it is expected to shift westward, and by December 1, south-westward. Each day, the storm is likely to weaken by one level.

By December 2–3, Koto is expected to approach offshore areas near Gia Lai (formerly part of Binh Dinh) and Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen), eventually degrading into a tropical depression, then a low-pressure zone.

Specifically, by 1:00 p.m. on December 2, the storm will continue southwestward at 3–5 km/h, weakening further. Its center will be about 250 km off the eastern coast of Gia Lai–Dak Lak, with wind speeds of level 8 and gusts up to level 10.

Between 72 and 120 hours from now, Koto is forecast to move west-southwest at 5–10 km/h and continue to weaken.

Risk alert level 3 issued for two marine zones

The simultaneous presence of Typhoon Koto and the rare tropical depression has led to dangerous sea conditions in multiple areas.

From November 30 onward, the northwestern sector of the central East Sea is expected to face winds at level 7, with areas near the storm center seeing wind speeds of level 8–10 and gusts reaching level 12–13. Waves may reach 3–5 meters, with peak heights up to 6–8 meters near the storm’s core, causing extremely rough seas.

The southwestern part of the southern East Sea - including waters near the southwest of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago - is expected to experience level 6–7 winds, gusts to level 8–9, and waves from 2.5 to 4 meters.

Coastal waters from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa will face strong north-to-northwest winds of level 6–7, gusting to level 8–9, with waves as high as 5 meters.

The northern East Sea - including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago - and waters off southern Quang Tri to Hue will also be affected by northeast winds at level 5–6, gusting to level 7–8, and waves of 2–4 meters.

The general disaster risk level at sea is currently set at Level 2, with Level 3 warnings issued for the northwestern sector of the central East Sea and the southwestern sector of the southern East Sea.

Vessels operating in these zones are at high risk of encountering strong winds, thunderstorms, and dangerous swells.

Bao Anh