Storms and Floods

Tropical Storms

In the Western Pacific:

Severe Tropical Storm Haiyan made landfall in northern Vietnam, close to China's border, with wind gusts up to 157km/h (98 mph). It still carried gusts of up to 157km/h (98 mph) as it arrived close to the Ha Long Bay tourist destination. Some 600,000 people have been evacuated from at-risk regions in Vietnam and at least six people have been killed.

China issued a typhoon alert for Hainan island, Guangdong and Guangxi after Haiyan's path changed. The typhoon has decreased markedly in strength from the Category Five storm that swept through the Philippines in a day, causing mass destruction. It is now classified as a severe tropical storm. By 21:00 GMT on Monday, as it heads into China, it will have become a tropical depression.

In the North Arabian Sea

Flooding rain and gusty winds impacting Somalia on Sunday and continuing into the beginning of the upcoming week thanks to a tropical cyclone which developed across the western Arabian Sea Friday night, local time.

Tropical Cyclone Three (03A) acquired tropical characteristics thanks to a favourable environment of warm ocean water temperatures and low wind shear. The Cyclone, which is the equivalent of a minimal tropical storm, will bring a widespread 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) of rain with locally higher amounts right at the coast and over the higher terrain through Monday. This amount of rain will cause life-threatening flooding and the potential for mudslides in the mountains.