THE weather bureau on Thursday said super typhoon Mawar maintained its strength and will remain in the super typhoon category when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, Pagasa also said Manwar’s “much closer approach” to the Philippines is possible.
“The forecast confidence cone and the slightly southward shift in the model solutions suggest that the potential for a much closer approach to the country than the ones shown by the center track is not ruled out,” Pagasa said.
The super typhoon is expected to enter PAR on Friday evening or Saturday morning.
Mawar, which will be called Betty once it enters PAR, is seen to accelerate as it moves west northwestward in the next 12 hours approaching Extreme Northern Luzon.
At a press briefing, Pagasa weather specialist Ana Clauren-Jorda said Mawar will remain a 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,” she said, adding Manwar’s maximum sustained winds may reach 215 kilometers per hour (km/h).
“Yung 215 kilometers per hour po ay pasok pa rin sa super typhoon category,” Jorda said.
In its bulletin, Pagasa said Mawar may reach 215 km/h, which is the peak intensity, by Sunday.
“Afterwards, the super typhoon is forecast to weaken although it will remain a typhoon by the end of the forecast period,” it added.
