The extremely powerful Typhoon Ragasa, the 18th typhoon of the year, is heading for Guangdong Province and could prompt a red alert — the highest warning level — in Shenzhen as early as Tuesday, the Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory warned Sunday.

Ragasa strengthened into a super typhoon this morning. According to the National Meteorological Center, sustained winds near the storm’s center have reached force 17.

A satellite cloud image captured at 11 a.m. today shows Typhoon Ragasa approaching the South China Sea, with its eye clearly visible east of the Philippines. National Meteorological Center

Guangdong’s provincial meteorological service said Ragasa is expected to cross the Bashi Channel Monday night, enter the South China Sea in the early hours of Tuesday, and then move toward Guangdong Province.

With a wide wind field, the storm is forecast to produce destructive effects across the province between Tuesday and Thursday.

Forecasters say landfall is most likely to occur along the central-to-western Guangdong coast between the pre-dawn and afternoon hours of Wednesday.

Because Ragasa is expected to track very close to shore as it moves westward, it could make multiple landfalls, and both the precise timing and location remain highly uncertain.

Projected 120-hour forecast track of Typhoon Ragasa from 5 p.m. today to 5 p.m. Sept. 26.  Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, the Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory said Ragasa will most likely pass south of Shenzhen on Wednesday or make landfall near the Pearl River Estuary, posing an extreme disaster risk to the city. The observatory cautioned that the worst conditions are expected from Tuesday night through Wednesday.

Shenzhen is likely to feel Ragasa’s outer rain bands as early as the pre-dawn hours Tuesday, with thundershowers developing throughout the day. Winds and rainfall are expected to intensify into the afternoon and evening, peaking as violent gales and cloudbursts Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

Five-day weather forecast for Shenzhen from today to Sept. 25, indicating increasing wind and rainfall as Typhoon Ragasa nears the region. Shenzhen Meteorological Observatory

Authorities urge residents to follow official bulletins closely, complete preparedness measures immediately, and adjust travel plans.