Typhoon Sarika to unleash torrential rain in China, Vietnam following deadly flooding

By Courtney Spamer, Meteorologist

October 17,2016; 10:47PM,EDT

 

 

After barreling over the Philippines and through the South China Sea, Sarika has its sights set on southern China and northern Vietnam.
With the equivalent strength as a Category 1 hurricane, Typhoon Sarika, also known as Karen in the Philippines, is forecast to have sustained winds to 145 km/h (90 mph) near the storm's eye at the time of landfall in Hainan.
Landfall on the Island is expected on Tuesday. Damaging wind gusts will threaten to cut power, down trees and cause damage to property across Hainan. Isolated wind damage may also extend to the north into the Leizhou Peninsula in southern Guangdong.

As it interacts with land, Sarika will slowly weaken, likely returning to tropical storm strength as it emerges back over water.
The system will move through the Gulf of Tonkin toward the border between China and Vietnam. Sarika's final landfall is expected in northeastern Vietnam on Wednesday, local time.
Despite weakening, significant impacts are still expected across the region.
Following Aere, which unleashed deadly flooding earlier in October, Hainan Island and north-central Vietnam will be at a greater risk of devastating flooding from Sarika.

Flooding rainfall in excess of 200 mm (8 inches) is expected to fall across much of Hainan, northern Vietnam and the Guangxi province of southern China. In the mountainous terrain of northern Vietnam and southern China, up to 300 mm (12 inches) of rain will lead to the risk of significant flash flooding and mudslides.
Additionally, coastal flooding is likely east of the landfall location of Sarika. The onshore winds could make for abnormally high tides in cities from Hai Phong in Vietnam to Fangchenggang of southern China. Bays and the mouths of rivers will be particularly susceptible to higher tidal flooding.
The farther inland that Sarika tracks, the more it will weaken. Although the storm will be weaker, in terms of wind, Sarika will still bring significant rainfall to inland locations.
Sarika has already been blamed for at least 2 deaths over the weekend, when the storm passed over the northern Philippines, according to ABC News. In Vietnam, at least 24 people have died in flooding unrelated to the looming typhoon.
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The powerful typhoon made landfall in Luzon, with sustained winds over 180 km/h (112 mph) on Saturday night, local time. This strength is equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane in the Atlantic.
In addition to the damaging winds, flooding rainfall further inundated Luzon, with more than 400 mm (16 inches) reported in the city of Virac. Areas from Iba to Dagupan and Baguio were drenched with 75-125 mm (3-5 inches) of rain.
The Philippine Office of Civil Defense stated that the typhoon left 246,000 residents of Catanduanes without electricity or telephone service, The Philippines Star reported.
While Manila was spared from the worst of the conditions, in excess of 50 mm (2 inches) of rain was reported in parts of the city.
Northern parts of the Philippines could get hit by another typhoon later this week, as the West Pacific remains active.
AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty contributed content to this story.