Typhoon Kalmaegi is likely to land east China's Zhejiang Province on Friday evening or Saturday morning, said the provincial meteorological authority.

Kalmaegi, which escalated to typhoon level on Thursday morning, was moving northwest from Hualien County of Taiwan, bringing winds gusting up to 108 km per hour at its center.

It was reported to arrive 519 km southeast to Zhejiang's Wenzhou at 5:00 p.m.

It might also move northward along Zhejiang's coastline, according to the provincial meteorological station.

Kalmaegi, the seventh tropical storm this year, is also expected to affect neighboring Shanghai and Fujian Province on Friday and Saturday.

Coast cities in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces are on 24-hour alert for the typhoon.

Under its influence, force 8-10 winds is predicted to blow on the sea off Zhejiang. Heavy storms are likely to hit the coast cities in Zhejiang.

It is also expected to bring heavy rain to Quanzhou, Xiamen and Zhangzhou in Fujian in the next two days.

The heavy rain would continue in Fujian until this weekend, according to the weather services.

Flood-control, offshore fishery and marine authorities in Fujian, Zhejiang and Shanghai have sent out warnings for early preparations against the storm. Ships and boats are advised to return to ports.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)