Tropical storm Wutip, which is estimated to be the strongest storm to hit Vietnam's central region since 2006, is forecast to make a landfall from Vietnam's central Ha Tinh to Quang Tri provinces late Monday afternoon, according to the Vietnam National Hydro-Meteorological Forecast Center.

At around 19:00 local time on Monday, the eye of the storm is predicted to hit those provinces' mainland with wind speeds ranging between 90 and 100 km per hour, said the center.

Coastal provinces from Nghe An to Da Nang in central Vietnam were warned to cope with sea water rising from three to four meters.

In the following 24-48 hours, the storm is forecast to move northwest at 15-20 km per hour, before fading into a tropical depression.

During an urgent meeting Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai instructed relevant agencies and localities to take preventive measures to help local people evacuate to safe locations, local Vietnam News reported Monday.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also made a request to leaders of the possible storm- hit provinces to cooperate with related agencies in minimizing property damage and loss of human life.

All fishing vessels operating offshore were ordered to find anchorage, while students in affected localities will be kept at home from schools.

Wutip will be the 10th tropical storm that hits Vietnam so far this year in 2013.