Sarika Weakens to a Tropical Storm, Poses Flood Threat to China and Vietnam

Tropical Storm Sarika continues to weaken between China's Hainan Island, where it made landfall as a typhoon on Tuesday, and the northern Vietnamese coast, where it is expected to make landfall in on Wednesday, local time. Over the weekend, Sarika pounded the northern Philippines where it made landfall early Sunday morning as a Category 4.

Sarika is forecast to make its final landfall near the border between Vietnam and southern China as a tropical storm on Wednesday, local time.

Although the winds in Sarika have weakened, it still poses a major threat of flooding as it moves inland. Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches (locally higher) are possible through Thursday near and either side of the border between China and Vietnam.

More than 10 inches of rain fell in the Hainan Island city of Qionghai in the 24 hours ending early Tuesday afternoon, local time.

Philippines: Category 4 Landfall

Sarika — given the name "Karen" by the Phillipine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) — moved ashore about 85 miles northeast of Manila near the town of Baler as the equivalent of a Category 4 storm with 130 mph maximum winds on Sunday.
(NEWS: Sarika/Karen Turns Deadly in the Philippines)
The town of Virac, capital of the Philippine province of Catanduanes, picked up almost 22 inches of rain Friday through Saturday. Nearby, the town of Daet also picked up just over 21 inches of total rain over that same time period.
Interestingly, prior to Sarika/Karen, the typically typhoon-hit northern Philippines had seen only one typhoon so far in 2016, Typhoon Nida.

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