According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the storm lay northwest of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea, at 4 a.m. Friday with winds of 60-75 kph.

It is likely to become stronger today and move north at 10 kph.

By 4 a.m. Saturday it will reach the southeastern part of China’s Hainan Island packing winds of up to 88 kph.

A day later Lionrock will be 50 km to the east of Bach Long Vi Island off Hai Phong before weakening into a tropical depression and making landfall over the northern and north-central regions.

Under its influence, the northern and central regions would see winds of up to 75 kph and rough seas with waves as tall as four meters, the weather bureau said.

Lionrock is the seventh storm over the East Sea this year.

Another five to seven are expected.