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| Tropical Storm CONSON Forecast Track (Joint Typhoon Warning Center) |
Tropical storm Conson is now dissipating over Vietnam. At one point in time, it was a powerful Typhoon which caused extensive damage and loss of life in the Philippines and China. In the Philippines, at least 53 people were dead and at least 38 were missing.
More than half of the main northern island of Luzon, which includes Manila, was without electricity, and authorities said it would take two to three days to restore power. Several dozen flights were canceled, and schools and many government offices closed. High winds felled trees and floods were knee-deep floods in some communities in the capital. Heavy rains, unrelated to the typhoon, have also wreaked havoc in China and Japan. More than 100 people are dead from flooding in China.
The typhoon hit northern Vietnam and caused torrential rains on Saturday afternoon and evening, initial reports said. Strong winds from the typhoon swept out Hai Phong, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh in the afternoon, while Ha Tinh and Quang Binh saw downpours, up to 180 millimeters.
A tropical storm in the West Pacific, when it intensifies, becomes a Typhoon. A typhoon is a tropical storm with sustained winds in excess of 119 km/h or approximately 74 mph. If the same storm were in the Atlantic, it would be called a hurricane.
Current Advisory from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC):
171500Z POSITION NEAR 21.1N 106.4E. TROPICAL STORM 03W (CONSON), LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 50 NM EAST- SOUTHEAST OF HANOI, VIETNAM, HAS TRACKED NORTHWESTWARD AT 10 KNOTS OVER THE PAST SIX HOURS. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 171200Z IS 19 FEET.
The forecast indicates that the storm should dissipate over the next 24 hours.
Continue to monitor this blog for tropical weather reports throughout the year.
