BEIJING, Jan. 17 -- Typhoon Mekkhala is approaching China, bringing strong winds to the South China Sea, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecasted on Saturday.

Mekkhala, the first typhoon in 2015, is expected to move northwest at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour after barrelling into the Philippines on Saturday afternoon.

Gales will sweep waters around Huangyan Islands, Xisha Islands, Taiwan and off coastal province of Fujian from Saturday night to Sunday night, according to the NMC.

The typhoon is weakening.