Former Tropical Storm Wutip strengthened to a typhoon near southern China on Friday evening.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Typhoon Wutip was located at latitude 20.8°N and longitude 109.4°E which put the center about 80 miles (130 km) southwest of Lianjiang, China.  Wutip was moving toward the north-northeast at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 979 mb.

Former Tropical Storm Wutip strengthened to a typhoon as it neared the coast of southern China on Friday evening.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Wutip’s circulation.  A small circular eye with a diameter of 15 miles (24 km) formed at the center of Typhoon Wutip.  The eye was surrounded by a thin ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Wutip’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Wutip generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the typhoon.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Typhoon Wutip decreased a little on Friday.  Winds to typhoon force extended out 25 miles (40 km) from the center of Wutip’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (160 km) from the center of Typhoon Wutip.

Typhoon Wutip will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next few hours before it makes landfall in China.  Wutip will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C.  It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge over eastern China.  The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear.  However, much of the southeastern part of Wutip’s circulation will pass over Hainan.  The increased friction over land will slow the winds in that part of Tropical Storm Wutip.  Typhoon Wutip could intensify a little more during the next few hours.

Tropical Storm Wutip will move around the western part of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Wutip toward the northeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center Typhoon Wutip will make landfall on the coast of southern China southwest of Lianjiang.

Typhoon Wutip will bring strong winds and heavy rain to southern China on Saturday.  The strongest winds and heaviest rain will occur in Guangdong and eastern Guangxi.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.