Super Typhoon Saola could be Hong Kong’s most powerful in five years

China issued its highest typhoon warning on August 31 as Super Typhoon Saola, packing winds of more than 200 kph (125 mph), headed towards the southeastern coastline, threatening Hong Kong and other major manufacturing hubs in nearby Guangdong province, Report informs referring to Reuters.

Chinese forecasters issued a typhoon red warning at 6 a.m. (22:00 GMT). China's National Meteorological Centre said Saola, currently located about 315 km (183 miles) southeast of Guangdong province, will move northwest across the South China Sea at a speed of about 10 kph (6 mph), gradually approaching the coast of Guangdong, then slowly weaken in intensity.

Wind speeds at noon (04:00 GMT) were clocked at 209 kph (130 mph).

Saola will make landfall along the coast somewhere from Huilai County in Guangdong to Hong Kong on the afternoon to the night of September 1, the center said, adding with its forecasted intensity, it could be among the five strongest typhoons to land in Guangdong since 1949.