Typhoon Mawar has re-intensified into a super typhoon as it moves closer to the Philippines from the Northern Mariana Island, Guam, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported on Thursday.
In its weather advisory issued at 5 AM, PAGASA said the center of the eye of Super Typhoon Mawar was last located 2,130 kilometers east of Southeastern Luzon.
It has maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center and gustiness of 230 km/h, and is moving northwestward at 15 km/h.
PAGASA said that Super typhoon Mawar is expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday evening or Saturday morning, and it will be named "Betty".
“MAWAR is forecast to continue intensifying in the next three days and may reach a peak intensity of 215 km/h by Sunday. Afterward, the super typhoon is forecast to weaken although it will remain a typhoon by the end of the forecast period,” the state weather bureau said.
According to PAGASA, Super Typhoon Mawar will bring heavy rains between Sunday and Tuesday next week.
“In addition, strong to gale-force conditions may be experienced in most areas of the region (except for Batanes-Babuyan Islands area which may have gale to storm-force conditions) which result in the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal in the coming days,” it added.
But the state weather bureau advised residents in Cagayan Valley and other areas of Northern Luzon to monitor for changes in the weather forecast.
