Severe rain and flooding in central Vietnam caused by Typhoon Wutip, the first tropical storm of 2025, have shattered decades-old records. Experts say climate extremes are becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable.

Meteorologists from the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) have released their assessments of Typhoon Wutip, emphasizing the unusual and extreme nature of this natural disaster. The storm, which struck from June 10 to 14, brought rare and record-breaking weather to the central region.

“This was the first typhoon to form in the East Sea during June in over 40 years, and the first to bring exceptionally heavy rainfall to central Vietnam in June since 1952,” experts noted. “Rainfall totals far exceeded previous records.”

Torrential rains swept across a wide area from southern Ha Tinh to Quang Nam, with rainfall totals ranging from 250 to 550 mm. Several locations recorded over 800 mm, with Bach Ma station in Hue logging 1,203 mm over three days - a record for June. This shattered the previous one-day record of 410 mm set at Nam Dong in 1983.

Even more unusual, 32 stations reported six-hour rainfall exceeding 200 mm. At Loc Tri station in Thua Thien Hue, 319.4 mm fell in just six hours - an extremely rare event in the June climate data record.

The typhoon’s circulation also triggered an early, abnormal flood event from June 11 to 14 on rivers from southern Quang Binh to Quang Nam. Flood peaks commonly reached Level 2 or 3 alerts, with some rivers exceeding the highest level: Thach Han at 6.04 meters and Bo River at 4.5 meters - both the highest June levels in 30 years.

“This disaster demonstrates both a seasonal shift and increasingly extreme, irregular climate behavior,” meteorologists stressed.

Over 100 weather bulletins issued

To provide timely forecasts and early warnings, the NCHMF issued more than 100 bulletins about the typhoon, rainfall, and flooding.

The first alert was issued on the morning of June 9, noting a low-pressure zone in the northern East Sea that was likely to intensify. By early June 10, a tropical depression had formed, and by June 11, Wutip officially became the first storm of the season.

From June 10 onward, the center also forecast heavy rain across central and northern Central Highlands regions. Subsequent bulletins were updated continuously, helping minimize human and material losses.

Nine deaths from Typhoon Wutip

As of 6 a.m. on June 16, provincial reports from Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam documented nine deaths: four in Quang Binh, three in Quang Tri, and two in Hue.

In Quang Nam, five houses collapsed, and 94 others were damaged or had roofs blown off (27 in Ha Tinh, 61 in Hue, 1 in Quang Nam, and 5 in Quang Tri).

Nearly 60,000 hectares of rice and crops were submerged (426 ha in Nghe An, 13,436 ha in Quang Binh, 25,372 ha in Quang Tri, 18,853 ha in Hue, and 1,901 ha in Da Nang). Over 2,300 hectares of aquaculture were destroyed or washed away, and eight boats were sunk or damaged.

Bao Anh