The tropical storm that crossed the Philippines late this week has intensified into Typhoon Bualoi (Opong) as it moved into the warm waters of the South China Sea, making it the ninth typhoon in the west Pacific this season. 

Image: Forecast track of Typhoon Bualoi at 12h increments (according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre, 27/00Z issue) 

Bualoi is currently 610km west of Manila with winds around 140km/h, gusting to approximately 170km/h, and pushing waves above 9m. Bualoi is forecast to intensify in the next 48 hours as it moves west-northwest towards the Gulf of Tonkin. This possibly makes Bualoi the second typhoon to make direct landfall over Vietnam this season after Typhoon Kajiki (Isang) on the 25th of August; though Super Typhoon Ragasa (Nando) did persist over north of Vietnam as a tropical storm.  It is forecast to make landfall around Vinh, Vietnam before quickly breaking apart within hours when it reaches the Annamite Range.  

Image: 10m Wind gusts as 10pm AEST on Saturday 27th, September 2025 

However, the remnants of Bualoi will continue to bring heavy falls to central Vietnam and Laos with 300-500mm of rain expected after Bualoi makes landfall. 

Image: 72h rainfall accumulation over South East Asia indicating rainfall from Typhoon Bualoi approaching and making landfall over central Vietnam 

Typhoon Bualoi, though intensifying, is not forecast to become a super typhoon during its lifespan. It is currently moving at the speed of 45km/h across the South China Sea, meaning it will not have sufficient time to build up strength over water before landfall. 

There is good consensus between the models as to the forecast path, time of landfall and impacts of Typhoon Bualoi, but for more information, you can visit the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre website here