Tropical storm Kai-Tak, was upgraded Thursday to a Level II Typhoon as it approached southeastern China, the China Meteorological Association said.
Kai-Tak is the 13th tropical storm to batter China this year. The China Meteorological Association said the storm was moving at 60 mph Thursday and was expected to make landfall in Guangdong before Friday afternoon.
China's official Xinhua news agency reported Kai-Tak is expected to produce heavy rains and high speed winds in Guangdong, with as much as nine inches of precipitation.
Storm warnings still were in effect in Hong Kong and the Philippines where Kai-Tak, known there as Helen, just departed.
China's Ministry of Civil Affairs said typhoons Saola, Damrey and Haikui already have slammed southeast China in recent weeks, leaving 51 dead and 21 missing.