TAIPEI - China is telling residents to brace for a strong typhoon expected to hit the coast Saturday evening.

Chinese officials expect severe damage when Muifa arrives in Zhejiang province. Weather Underground forecasters say winds between 111 and 130 miles per hour were expected late Saturday.

China's Civil Affairs Ministry ordered storm alerts Thursday for the coastal provinces of Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Shandong and inland Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.

Chinese officials have recalled thousands of fishing boats and ordered rescue crews to stand by.