Tropical storm Nesat is intensifying into a typhoon as it moves west through China’s southern Hainan Island. It is expected to make landfall in Vietnam on Wednesday or Thursday, the Thai Meteorological Department said today (Sunday).

The centre of the storm, packed with wind speeds of 100kph, was located in South China Sea at 4pm today and is moving west at the rate of 20kph and is gaining in strength.

The typhoon will, however, quickly weaken when it collides with a strong cold front, which is looming over the South China Sea and northern Thailand.

The department warned people living in southern Thailand to brace for heavy to very heavy rain, rough seas and strong winds in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand from tomorrow until Friday, due to the strengthening of the south-westerly winds over the Andaman Sea.

Waves in the Andaman Sea will be up to 3 metres and higher in stormy areas whereas, in the Gulf, waves will be over 2 metres in stormy areas.

Small boats are advised to stay ashore from Monday to Friday this week.