First tropical depression of 2026 forms in East Sea

The first tropical depression of 2026 has formed over the East Sea (South China Sea), according to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. The system, packing winds of up to 49 km/h (30 mph) and gusts up to 62 km/h (39 mph), was located approximately 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of the Paracel Islands as of Tuesday evening.

Forecasters predict the tropical depression will move northeast over the next 24 to 36 hours, heading away from Vietnam and towards Taiwan. Consequently, it is not expected to directly impact the Vietnamese mainland. However, the storm's influence will bring strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the northern and central East Sea, as well as waters from Khanh Hoa to Ca Mau and the Spratly Islands.

Residents in these affected areas should anticipate winds of force 6 (39-49 km/h) with gusts up to force 8 (63-74 km/h), and sea waves ranging from 2 to 4 meters (6.5 to 13 feet). The possibility of whirlwinds and strong gusts during thunderstorms also exists.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecasting department at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, stated that while one to two storms or tropical depressions are likely to form over the East Sea in June, they are unlikely to affect Vietnam's coast. He noted that the overall number of storms this season is expected to be lower than the multi-year average. However, he cautioned that stronger storms with complex trajectories could still pose a threat.