China's National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center (NMEFC) on Thursday morning issued an orange alert for ocean waves as Typhoon Dolphin, the 13th typhoon of the year, continues to move toward the country's eastern coastal regions.

According to the alert issued at 8 a.m., giant waves of 6 to 10 meters are expected in the eastern part of the East China Sea from Thursday morning to Friday morning, prompting an orange-level warning for offshore waters.

During the same period, waves of 2 to 3 meters are forecast in the coastal waters off Zhejiang Province, with a blue-level warning issued for nearshore areas.

The NMEFC has advised vessels operating in the affected waters to strengthen safety precautions, while relevant coastal authorities are urged to take preventive measures against high waves in advance.

Also on Thursday, China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) renewed a blue alert for Typhoon Dolphin as the storm continues to approach the country's eastern coast.

As of 5 a.m. Thursday, the center of the typhoon was located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, about 1,360 kilometers east of Wenzhou in Zhejiang Province. The typhoon was packing maximum winds of 42 meters per second near its center.

The NMC said Dolphin is expected to move westward at a speed of 15 to 20 kilometers per hour, while maintaining its current intensity or strengthening slightly. It is forecast to enter the East China Sea on Friday and gradually approach the eastern coastal areas of China.

From 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, strong winds are expected over most parts of the East China Sea, the southeastern Yellow Sea, waters east of Taiwan, the eastern coast of Taiwan Island, the Bashi Channel, and the central and southern parts of the South China Sea.

Meteorological authorities have advised residents in eastern coastal regions to closely monitor the latest forecasts and warning information and make preparations for possible typhoon impacts.

China has a four-tier color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue.