TROPICAL STORM MAKES LANDFALL IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE

On 5 August 2009 Tropical Storm Goni made landfall in southern China's Guangdong province, bringing high winds and heavy rain to the region. The storm weakened to a tropical depression after making landfall. Meanwhile, as of 0900 UTC, Tropical Storm Morakot was centered approximately 370 mi/590 km southeast of Okinawa, Japan. According to meteorologists, Morakot is expected to continue on a west to west-northwest path toward the coast of China, and conditions are favorable for the storm to strengthen to a typhoon. The storm was moving at a speed of 11 mph/10 kt, and registered maximum sustained winds of 63 mph/55 kt, with gusts of up to 80 mph/70 kt. It is expected to make landfall within 72 hours.