Tropical storm expected to make landfall in Guangdong on Friday

A tropical depression in the South China Sea is expected to intensify into a tropical storm and make landfall in Guangdong province on Friday evening, bringing heavy rain to southern China, China's National Meteorological Center said on Thursday.

The storm, which would be the first typhoon to hit China this year, is forecast to move northward and strengthen. By Friday morning, it is expected to be classified as a tropical storm, the second of the year in the Northwest Pacific Ocean basin. Landfall is anticipated along Guangdong's eastern coast Friday evening or night.

This landfall would be earlier than average for the first typhoon to impact China. Historical data (1949-2019) shows the first typhoon typically arrives around June 27. Additionally, while typhoons have historically made landfall anywhere from Zhejiang in the north to Hainan in the south, Guangdong has been the most frequently affected region.

The National Meteorological Center predicts strong winds along Guangdong's coast, the South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait from Thursday evening to Friday. Some localized areas could experience storm.

During this same period, heavy rainfall is expected in southern Anhui province, western Zhejiang province, southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, eastern and southern coastal Guangdong province, and southeastern Hainan Island. The Center also predicts significant precipitation over the next three days.