Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Super Typhoon Mawar Could Be Guam's Strongest In At Least 20 Years With Destructive Storm Surge, Winds, Flooding Rain

Super Typhoon Mawar Could Be Guam's Strongest In At Least 20 Years With Destructive Storm Surge, Winds, Flooding Rain


Super Typhoon Mawar has rapidly intensified as it heads toward the U.S. territory of Guam with destructive storm surge, high winds and flooding rain in what could be its strongest, closest strike in at least 20 years.

T​yphoon warnings have been issued by the National Weather Service for Guam, as well as Rota, an island about 40 miles north-northeast of Guam.

A​nd while the Mariana Islands are in the most immediate danger, Mawar also has an uncertain future after striking Guam that could eventually pose a threat to other parts of the western Pacific Basin.

Here is what you need to know about this typhoon.

Where Mawar is now: Super Typhoon Mawar's center is currently to the southeast of Guam, moving toward the northwest.

M​awar became a super typhoon early Tuesday (U.S. Eastern Daylight Time), which means it has winds of at least 150 mph. That's the equivalent of a strong Category 4 hurricane. It's possible Mawar could briefly hit Category 5 strength as it nears Guam.

A​s you can see in the map below, some outer rainbands well away from the center of Mawar are occasionally sweeping into Guam and the Marianas, with heavy rain and some wind gusts.


Here is Mawar's timeline: B​ands of rain will continue to push through Guam and the Marianas as the typhoon draws closer overnight Tuesday night, local time (Guam is 14 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time).

The closest approach of the center – and the most severe impact – is expected near Guam on Wednesday. Typhoon force winds (74 mph or greater) should arrive by Wednesday morning.

C​onditions will gradually improve in the Marianas beginning Thursday.

We'll then have to watch when Mawar will curl to the northwest, then north, then northeast beginning early next week.

T​he later and less sharp the curve, the bigger the potential threat to the northern Philippines, Taiwan and Japan next week.

People in these areas should monitor this forecast in the days ahead and be prepared, in case it eventually becomes a threat.


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