DHAKA: After wreaking damage on the Philippines over Tuesday and Wednesday, a newly intensified Typhoon Rammasun is bearing down on Southern China. The storm, which was downgraded as it passed over the Philippines, gained strength again over the South China Sea. 

Now categorized by the China Meteorological Administration as a super typhoon, Rammasun is expected to make its final landfall between western Guangdong province and the island province of Hainan Friday morning. Super typhoons are categorized as having sustained winds of 150 mph (241 km/h) or higher.

The Administration issued a 'red' typhoon warning, the highest of four color-coded warning levels. It is the first time this year the signal has been raised.

"Its intensity when landing will reach force 15 to 16 (50 to 55m/s)," the bulletin said.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) based in Pearl Harbor, tracked the typhoon as moving in a northwesterly direction, passing over the northern tip of Hainan. The Center defines a super typhoon as having sustained winds of 130 kt; as of 11 a.m. local time (11 p.m Eastern), it was monitoring winds at 125 kt.

"It is moving northwest at 25 km per hour and is likely to make landfall in the west of Guangdong Province or in Hainan on Friday," said Cheng Zhengquan, chief meteorologist of Guangdong's meteorological agency, according to Chinese state media.

At 11am local time Hong Kong's government observatory estimated the super typhoon to be around 249 miles (400 km) south-southwest of the city. It was not expected to affect the city beyond strong winds and rain, reports CNN.

Upon reaching the mainland the storm is expected to produce strong gales -- which may top 93 mph (150 km/h) -- heavy rain and tidal surges.

BDST: 1049 HRS, JUL 18, 2014