Typhoon Mawar may enter PAR by Friday, to be named ‘Betty’

A potential super typhoon off the Pacific Ocean is seen to enter the country’s area of responsibility by Friday or Saturday, May 26 or 27, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said on Monday, May 22.

In its public weather forecast on Monday afternoon, Ana Clauren-Jorda said the typhoon with the international name “Mawar” will be given the local name “Betty” once inside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR).

She said there is still a low chance of it making landfall in any part of the country.

However, Clauren-Jorda said PAGASA will keep an eye on this weather disturbance because it could enhance or strengthen the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which will bring rains to a significant portion of the archipelago in the coming days.

As of Monday afternoon, Mawar was approximately 2,275 kilometers east of Mindanao or outside the PAR.

It has slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts of up to 170 kph, from 130 kph maximum sustained winds and gusts of up to 160 kph.

On Monday morning, PAGASA weather specialist Obet Badrina said Mawar has a chance of intensifying into a super typhoon with winds of at least 185 kph while still over the sea.

In the next 24 hours, the southwesterly surface wind flow will still be the dominant weather system in the country, which will bring scattered rain showers and thunderstorms to Palawan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the country will continue to experience hot weather with a chance of isolated rain showers and thunderstorms.  — Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz