Tropical depression off Philippines to dissipate before reaching Vietnam

As of 7 a.m. Monday, the tropical depression was situated off the eastern coast of Palawan Island, Philippines, carrying maximum sustained winds of 49 kph. It is currently moving west at 15–20 kph, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Forecasts from the NCHMF and the Hong Kong Observatory indicate the system will rapidly weaken upon entering the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea.

The system is expected to degenerate into a low-pressure area by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, while over the southeastern waters of the central East Sea.

Despite the forecast for rapid weakening, the National Civil Defense Steering Committee issued an urgent notice urging coastal provinces from central Quang Tri to southern An Giang to monitor the depression’s developments, warn vessels in hazardous areas, and prepare rescue equipment.

The NCHMF projects that the East Sea may still see one to two storms or tropical depressions during December. Central and south-central Vietnam could experience one to two widespread heavy rainfall events, with rainfall from southern Quang Tri to the northern south-central coast expected to be higher than the long-term average. The risk of flash floods and landslides remains high.

The current climate oscillation, the ENSO phenomenon, is forecast to continue leaning toward La Niña, which typically brings increased rainfall and cold air, until February 2026.

By the end of November, the East Sea had already recorded 15 storms and tropical depressions, making 2025 the year with the most cyclones since records began in 1961.

The report follows recent severe weather; though Typhoon Koto weakened at sea, its circulation still caused heavy rain and landslides in the south-central region, contributing to a year where natural disasters caused around VND100 trillion (US$3.79 million) in damage and left 419 people dead or missing.