Tropical Depression 17W – Tropical Cyclone Advisory #1: 1500 UTC 18 August 2025

Tropical Depression 17W about to move inland over far northeastern Vietnam.

Author

Will Weaver
August 18, 2025

…Tropical Depression 17W about to move inland over far northeastern Vietnam…

Himawari-9 infrared satellite image (Weathernerds)

Current storm information:

  • Position: 20.5°N 107.3°E

  • Movement: N at 6 knots (10 km/h)

  • Intensity: 30 knots (55 km/h)

  • Central pressure: 1000 hPa

Trend:

  • Little change in strength is expected prior to landfall. Rapid weakening and dissipation are likely within the next 24 hours.

Watches and warnings:

  • There are no land-based watches or warnings in effect; refer to products from your local weather office for any local rainfall or wind warnings.

Hazards affecting land:

  • TD 17W is likely to produce heavy rainfall over far northeastern Vietnam and southern China during the next couple of days. This rainfall could result in widespread flooding. For additional information, including possible additional warnings, refer to products from your local weather office.

Discussion:

The minor tropical depression (formerly Invest 91W) in the Gulf of Tonkin has developed a fairly well-defined circulation, with an area of intense convection located over and to the west of the circulation center. In addition, scatterometer data suggests the system is producing winds of 25 to 30 kts mainly to the east of the center, so JTWC has upgraded it to Tropical Depression 17W with winds of 30 kts.

TD 17W will be making landfall in far northeastern Vietnam during the next few hours. Given the marginal environment it’s located in with moderate easterly shear, no significant changes in strength appear likely before then. Once 17W makes landfall, it should rapidly spin down, and the depression will likely dissipate outright within the next 24 hours.

Forecast positions and maximum winds

  • 00 hrs: 20.5°N 107.3°E – 30 kts on the coast

  • 12 hrs: 21.6°N 107.2°E – 25 kts inland

  • 24 hrs: Dissipated

JTWC forecast map