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BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) — China’s NationalMeteorological Center (NMC) said early on Saturday that Typhoon Neoguri may landin south China again, in Guangdong Province, on Saturday afternoon.
Typhoon Neoguri, the first to approach south Chinathis year, weakened into a severe tropical storm and landed at Longlou Town,Wenchang City, in the northeast of the island province of Hainan at 10:30 p.m.on Friday, packing winds of up to 108 kilometers per hour.
The latest forecast at 6 a.m. showed the storm centerwas at about 190 kilometers southwest by south from Yangjiang City, Guangdong at5 a.m., packing winds of up to 90 kilometers per hour.
The national observatory said the storm was moving at10 to 15 kilometers per hour northward, and could make a landfall betweenWuchuan and Taishan, Guangdong on Saturday afternoon or later into the nightwith a weakening force.
The storm would bring downfall or rainstorms ontooffshore areas along Guangdong Province, with rainstorms to be especially severealong western Guangdong coast, according to the NMC.
It also said the northern part of South China Sea,inshore areas along western Guangdong and Qiongzhou Strait would see gusts of39.6 to 61.2 kilometers per hour, with winds at the center to reach 75.6 to 90kilometers per hour.
The NMC asked the storm-affected areas to getprepared against the approaching storm. It said indoor or outdoor assembly suchas school classes and fieldwork should be suspended, and working vessels andthose passing by should return to harbor.
It said people should be evacuated to safe places andwarned of possible geological disasters that could happen due to coming heavyrains.
When Typhoon Neoguri landed in Hainan Province, at least42,000 residents in five major cities had been moved to safe places, and80,000 fishermen and 21,800 boats were recalled from sea, with no casualtiesreported.

news.xinhuanet.com

New site profiles ocean research
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched a Web site this week that features the latest research and photographs from the three West Coast national marine sanctuaries, including the Monterey Bay.
The site offers information about several aspects of California’s offshore waters and includes a photo gallery with more than 2,800 video images, sounds and graphics. It also serves as a place for researchers to share information.
Nearly 100 groups are assisting with postings, including the U.S. Geological Survey and Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
The site is http://sanctuarysimon.org.
The three sanctuaries featured are the Gulf of the Farallones, Cordell Bank and Monterey Bay.
Open burn season closed
Backyard burn season closed today, according to Cal Fire and the Monterey Bay Air Pollution Control District, which oversee open burn season.
People can be cited for burning out of season and may be liable for all fire suppression costs.
The window to burn debris ended for several reasons, including low amounts of moisture in the region, the number of fires that have escaped burn operations this year, wind conditions and the dry, warm weather,
Campfires will still be allowed in designated campgrounds or in facilities on private property.
Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial-type burning may be allowed in some areas if fire officials inspect the burn site and issue a special permit prior to the burn.
Contact your local fire district for information.

mercurynews.com