Tropical storm Soulic, Asia's 19th major storm of the year, is centered far out in the Pacific Ocean but is expected to bring gales to the Bohai Sea, East China Sea, Taiwan straits and oceans south of Japan.

The storm, packing winds or more than 140 kilometers an hour is moving northeastly at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said Sunday.

As of early Sunday morning the storm was located at latitude 26.1 north and longitude 141.0 east, according to the CMA.

The meteorological authority warned vessels to steer clear of the storms path as high winds are expected in areas that are 440 kilometers from the storm's center.

Strong winds and gales will be felt in a wide ranging area including the Bohai Sea, northern Yellow See, East China Sea, Taiwan straits, northeastern part of South China Sea, the Bashi channel, the Balintang channel, ocean areas east to Taiwan and oceans north to the Sea of Japan.

The full impact of the storm will be felt from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, the CMA said.

Soulic, which is named after a traditional tribal chief from Micronesia, formed on Oct. 10, according to the CMA.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)