Typhoon Talim forecast to hit southern China late Monday

Tropical storm Talim strengthened into a typhoon early on Monday and is set to be the first this year to make landfall in China, the national weather forecaster said, while authorities cancelled flights and urged residents to stay at home. China Meteorological Administration issued an orange alert, saying the typhoon was expected to increase in intensity to become a severe typhoon by the time it makes landfall at night along the southern coast from Guangdong to Hainan. China has a four-tier colour-coded weather warning system under which orange is the second highest alert. Talim is set to be the fourth typhoon this year but the first to make landfall in China, according to weather predictions. Early on Monday, the meteorological centre said Talim was located 375km south-east of Zhanjiang City in Guangdong province, moving at a speed of 20km per hour. The national forecaster urged authorities in Guangdong and Hainan to be on standby to respond to the typhoon. Markets in Hong Kong halted trade for the day as the city's observatory put in place storm signal No. 8 for Talim, while all court hearings in the city were adjourned. The meteorological centre forecast gale force winds in the seas near the southern provinces and regions and exceptionally heavy rains of 250-280mm (9.8-11 inches) in the southwestern coast of Guangxi and northern Hainan Island.<br/>