Super Typhoon Mawar has maintained its strength on Thursday and will likely remain in the super typhoon category when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) either on Friday night or Saturday morning, according to PAGASA.
In its 11 AM weather bulletin, the state weather bureau said Mawar was last seen at 2,065 km East of Southeastern Luzon with a maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 230 km/h, and central pressure of 930 hPa.
PAGASA weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said in a press briefing that Mawar, which will be called Betty, will remain as super typhoon when it enters PAR.
"Makikita natin sa ating track na mapapanatili po nito yung kaniyang intensity o category bilang isang super typhoon hanggang sa pumasok at baybayin nito ang ating karagatan," Jorda said.
"Yung 215 kilometers per hour po ay pasok pa rin sa super typhoon category," she added.
PAGASA said Mawar is expected to enhance the Southwest Monsoon and may trigger monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas beginning on Sunday or Monday.
However, the monsoon rains scenario may still change due to dependence of Southwest Monsoon enhancement on the track and intensity of the super typhoon.
The state weather bureau added the Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal may be raised in the coming days due to the possible strong to gale-force conditions in most areas of the region, except for Batanes-Babuyan Islands area which may have gale to storm-force conditions.
