BEIJING - Huge waves are likely to hit China's southeast coast as tropical storm Trami draws near, warned the National Marine Environmental Forecasting Center on Tuesday.

The tropical storm's category was raised to "severe tropical storm" on Tuesday morning, with maximum wind speeds reaching 89-117 km per hour, said a statement from the forecast agency.

The tropical storm is likely to reach the east coast of Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon,then move toward the coast of southeast China's Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

The tropical cyclone will generate waves of five to eight meters high in the southern part of the East China Sea from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon and will raise tides along the coast.

The agency reminded fishing ships to return to harbors and urged local authorities to check embankments in coastal regions.