BEIJING - China's meteorological authorities Monday issued an orange alert, the third-level of the five-tier warning system, as tropical storm Vincent nears the country's southern coast.

The eighth tropical storm this year is moving northwestward at a speed of 15 kilometers to 20 kilometers per hour, and is expected to make landfall over the coast of Shenzhen and Zhanjiang in Guangdong province Monday evening and Tuesday morning, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said.

The strongest tropical storm to hit China so far this year will bring heavy rains to most parts of south China over the next three days and precipitation will exceed 50 millimeters there.

Parts of Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan will see rainfall of 200 to 350 millimeters, the NMC warned.