By The South Asia Times

BEIJING — Severe Typhoon Bavi strengthened overnight and is expected to make landfall along China's eastern coast early Sunday, prompting authorities to issue high-level weather alerts, suspend schools, shut tourist attractions, and cancel hundreds of flights and train services.

China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) upgraded Bavi to a severe typhoon around midnight Saturday and issued an orange typhoon alert, the country's second-highest warning level, according to state-run Global Times.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, the storm's center was located about 540 kilometers east-southeast of the Zhejiang-Fujian border, packing maximum sustained winds of Force 14 near its center, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Forecasters said Bavi is moving rapidly northwest with little change in strength and is expected to make landfall between Taizhou in Zhejiang Province and Fuding in Fujian Province in the early hours of Sunday, either as a severe typhoon or a typhoon.

China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center issued a red alert for ocean waves and an orange alert for storm surges, warning that waves of 9 to 13 meters (30 to 43 feet) could batter the southern East China Sea through Sunday morning. Waves of 5 to 8 meters are forecast for the northern East China Sea, while the Taiwan Strait is expected to see waves of 4 to 6 meters.

Authorities also warned of possible seawater inundation in vulnerable coastal areas and urged residents to monitor official warnings and prepare for potential flooding and storm impacts.

The Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level III geological disaster emergency response for Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on Friday as heavy rainfall raised concerns over landslides and other secondary disasters.

The approaching storm has disrupted transportation across eastern China.

Shanghai's two major airports — Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport — were expected to reduce or cancel nearly 20% of scheduled arrivals and departures on Saturday, according to CCTV.

Further south, Ningbo Lishe International Airport canceled 164 flights, while airlines operating at Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport planned to cancel 198 arriving and departing flights.

Railway authorities also announced temporary suspensions of services on several major rail lines, including sections of the Hangzhou-Shenzhen Railway and the Hangzhou-Wenzhou High-Speed Railway, between July 11 and July 14.

Local governments have introduced sweeping precautionary measures ahead of the storm.

The city of Fuzhou in Fujian suspended all in-person activities at schools and training institutions, including summer camps and extracurricular programs.

In neighboring Zhejiang, authorities temporarily closed parks, museums and scenic attractions in Hangzhou's famous West Lake area. Hiking trails, boat tours, sightseeing shuttle buses, night tours and the popular West Lake musical fountain were also suspended.

Maritime authorities in Guangdong Province placed coastal waters under full typhoon preparedness, suspended some passenger ferry services, and ordered northbound vessels to seek shelter in safe waters. The province has maintained a Level III emergency response for tropical cyclones.

Typhoon Bavi is the ninth named storm of the Pacific typhoon season and is expected to bring destructive winds, torrential rain, high waves and storm surges to parts of eastern China as it approaches landfall. Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to avoid unnecessary travel and follow evacuation and safety instructions as conditions deteriorate.