GUANGZHOU - Sarika, the year's third tropical storm, may become the first to land in China this year, local meteorological authorities said on Friday.

The tropical storm is currently located about 530 kilometers south of the city of Shantou in South China's Guangdong province, according to the provincial meteorological station.

Packing winds of 18 km per hour, the storm is predicted to land somewhere between the city of Shanwei in Guangdong and Zhangpu county in nearby Fujian province on Saturday, said meteorologist Zhang Dong.

Sarika will move at a speed of 20 to 25 km per hour and become stronger over the next 24 hours, said Zhang. The storm will unleash torrential rains in eastern Guangdong and lash the Bashi Channel and the Taiwan Strait with strong winds, according to Zhang.

The State Oceanic Administration has ordered ships in the area to take extra precautions to avoid the storm.