Super Typhoon Mawar threatens to hit the Philippines, Japan and China

Super Typhoon Mawar made landfall on the US island of Guam with destructive winds and heavy rains earlier this week, according to AccuWeather forecasters. It continues to move west across the Pacific and is expected to impact more land in the western Pacific and East Asia next week.

Mawar has strengthened into a super typhoon, the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean, as it moves toward the Philippines. The super typhoon could become even stronger and is expected to hit the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan (China) starting on May 28 with more rain and strong winds.

Siêu bão Mawar nhăm nhe ập vào Philippines, Nhật Bản và Trung Quốc - Ảnh 1.

Super Typhoon Mawar threatens to hit the Philippines, Japan and China. Photo: AccuWeather

"Mawar is forecast to maintain strength, and even strengthen slightly, as it continues to move westward through the Philippine Sea this weekend," AccuWeather's chief international forecaster Jason Nicholls said.

As of the evening of May 26, super typhoon Mawar was centered a few hundred kilometers west-northwest of Guam, reaching level 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (winds of up to 252 km/h). The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said Mawar currently maintains winds of about 194 km/h.

Mawar may then maintain or slightly weaken its winds as it begins to make landfall again, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to northern Luzon Island of the Philippines from the evening of May 28 to May 30 (local time).

"Mawar's rainfall and wind speeds in the Philippines will depend on how close the super typhoon gets before it is expected to turn north toward Japan's Ryukyu Islands and east of Taiwan (China)," AccuWeather added.

Philippine authorities have ordered a suspension of sea voyages and warned small boats not to fish offshore.

Pham Nghia

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