Tropical Storm Wipha (#09W) – Tropical Cyclone Advisory #14: 1200 UTC 22 July 2025

…Wipha still a tropical storm as it continues pushing inland over northern Vietnam…

Discussion:

Although Wipha’s circulation has become significantly more diffuse since the previous advisory and is difficult to discern on both satellite and radar imagery, a combination of surface observations and scatterometer data indicates that the circulation still exists and that Wipha is still a tropical storm. The system is currently in the process of decoupling due to strong easterly shear, with most of the convection racing ahead of Wipha’s low level circulation and moving into northern Laos and northern Thailand. This is backed up by the radar data which shows most of the associated rainfall pushing quickly westward while the circulation is left behind. The intensity is lowered to 35 kts, based on Oceanscat-3 data indicating that northeasterly winds of 35 to 40 kts are still occurring over the Gulf of Tonkin.

With Wipha’s circulation rapidly losing definition, it will likely not be able to hang onto tropical cyclone status for long, and it is likely the low-level circulation will dissipate within the next 24 hours as it moves into northern Laos. Even after the circulation dissipates, the remnants of Wipha will continue to be a substantial rainfall threat across much of Southeast Asia for the next few days. Also, a new monsoonal disturbance is expected to form near the entrance of the Gulf of Tonkin later this week which may be partially associated with Wipha’s remnants.

Forecast positions and maximum winds

• 00 hrs: 20.0°N 105.5°E – 35 kts inland

• 12 hrs: 20.0°N 104.5°E – 25 kts Post-tropical/remnant low inland

• 24 hrs: Dissipated