After bringing heavy rainfall to the northern Philippines, Tropical Storm Mujigae will strengthen and approach Southern China and northern Vietnam from Sunday into early next week. Upgraded to a tropical storm Friday afternoon, local time, Mujigae will continue to strengthen as it moves across the South China Sea into Sunday. The combination of relatively light wind shear and warm ocean water temperatures will allow Mujigae to strengthen into a strong tropical storm and perhaps even a typhoon prior to reaching southern China.
The city of Iba, on the western side of the Island Luzon in the northern Philippines, has been inundated with over 175 mm (7 inches) of rain in the last 24 hours. Manila dodged the worst of it but still managed to receive around 50 mm (2 inches) during that same time.
The city of Olongapo was battered with more than 150 mm (6 inches) of rain from Mujigae; however, rainfall will lesson through Friday across the region.
A strengthening Mujigae has its sights set on southern China, including Hainan Island where heavy rain and damaging winds are expected on Sunday. Among the cities that are being put on alert for potential impacts later this weekend or early next week include Zhenjiang and Haikou, China, and Hai Phong and Hanoi, Vietnam. Rainfall of 100-200 mm (4-8 inches) is expected from near the border of Vietnam and China through Guangxi and western Guangdong provinces.
