Tropical Storm Tapah was nearing the coast of southern China on Sunday.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday the center of Tropical Storm Tapah was located at latitude 20.4°N and longitude 113.4°E which put the center about 75 miles (120 km) south of Macau.  Tapah was moving toward the north-northwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 991 mb.

Tropical Storm Tapah was strengthening as it neared the coast of southern China on Sunday.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the eastern side of the center of Tapah’s circulation.  An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Storm Tapah.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Tapah’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Tapah generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the southwest of the tropical storm.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Storm Tapah became more symmetrical on Sunday.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 120 miles (195 km) from the center of Tapah’s circulation.

Tropical Storm Tapah will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours.  Tapah will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge that is over China.  The upper level ridge will produce northeasterly winds that will blow toward the top of Tapah’s circulation.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the shear will not be enough to prevent intensification.  Tropical Storm Tapah will intensify during the next 12 hours.  Tapah could strengthen to a typhoon before it reaches the coast of southern China.

Tropical Storm Tapah will move around the southwestern side of a high pressure system over the Western North Pacific Ocean.  The high pressure system will steer Tapah toward the northwest during the next 12 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Storm Tapah will make landfall on the coast of southern China west of Macau in 12 hours.

Tropical Storm Tapah could intensify to a typhoon before it makes landfall on the coast of southern China.  Tapah will bring strong winds and heavy rain to southwestern Guangdong.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.