Here's what we know so far about Super Typhoon Mawar
Tropical cyclone "Mawar" hit the US island territory of Guam on Wednesday, May 24 cutting out power, tearing down trees, and flooding the streets, marking their "strongest storm in years." Fortunately, there were no reports of any casualties or major damages.
However, it is forecast to enter the Philippine area of responsibility on the eve of May 26, Friday, if not early Saturday morning, May 27.
Here's what we know so far about it.
Local name
State weather bureau PAGASA said Mawar will be known locally as "Betty" once it enters the PAR.
From super typhoon to typhoon to super typhoon again
PAGASA has five tropical cyclone categories, from weakest to strongest in terms of maximum sustained winds: tropical depression, tropical storm, severe tropical storm, typhoon, and super typhoon.
Mawar has been initially classified as a super typhoon but was downgraded to a typhoon on the morning of May 24, Wednesday, but the agency didn't rule out the possibility of Mawar reintensifying ahead of its anticipated entry to the PAR. And, indeed, the morning of May 25, it reintensified into super typhoon—just as it laid waste to Guam.
Track and forecast
According to PAGASA's tropical cyclone advisory on May 26 at 11 a.m., Mawar is moving generally west northwestward until Sunday while accelerating before turning northwestward in the same day.
Mawar will then begin to decelerate as it begins to move closer toward the waters east of Extreme Northern Luzon.
It's forecast to reach its peak intensity within 24 hours, according to PAGASA.
It may slightly weaken by tomorrow evening, May 27, but is expected to remain as a super typhoon until Monday morning, May 29, "due to highly favorable environment."
PAGASA said Mawar may bring heavy rains over Northern Luzon beginning late Sunday or Monday. Strong to storm-force conditions may be experienced over Extreme North Luzon, while strong to gale-force conditions are possible over the northern and eastern portions of Northern Luzon mainland.
The next advisory will be issued at 11 p.m. later today.
Preparations
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is already on standby for emergencies, having alerted its regional counterparts and the local government units. The Department of Interior and Local Government said it has also instructed regional directors to coordinate with the LGUs.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it has about 800,000 food packs worth P565.7 million in its regional offices ready for distribution.
As for telecommunication companies, Globe in a Facebook post on May 25 said it's already on standby for possible network issues.
"[H]anda kaming mag-deploy ng Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, at Libreng WiFi stations sa mga apektadong lugar," Globe said.
(Editor's Note: This story was updated to include PAGASA's tropical cyclone bulletin for May 26, 11 a.m., replacing the May 25 bulletin.)