As it continued to intensify on Thursday evening, May 25, super typhoon Mawar may reach its peak intensity of 215 kilometers per hour within 24 to 36 hours, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its latest bulletin. Based on PAGASA’s 11 p.m. tropical cyclone advisory, super typhoon Mawar has intensified further, with maximum sustained winds of 205 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gusts up to 250 kph. PAGASA said it may reach a peak intensity of 215 kph. “The super typhoon may slightly weaken by Saturday (May 27) but is expected to remain as a super typhoon until Sunday (May 28) or early Monday (May 29) due to highly favorable environment,” PAGASA said. “Mawar will then weaken at a slightly faster rate by Monday or Tuesday (May 30) as unfavorable conditions, such as increasing wind shear, cooler sea surface temperature resulting from its slowdown by that time, and dry air intrusion, take place,” it added. ![IMG_2765.jpeg](https://storage.googleapis.com/mb-mkt-neo-prod-1-uploads/IMG_2765_de8ad0d186/IMG_2765_de8ad0d186.jpeg) ###### (PAGASA)
**Mawar moves closer to PAR** The center of the eye of Mawar was approximately 1,840 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon, or still outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), around 10 p.m. PAGASA expects the weather disturbance to continue moving westward until Friday, then turn more west-northwestward on Saturday.  It may enter PAR between Friday evening and Saturday morning, and once inside, it will be given the local name "Betty." “Mawar will begin to decelerate on Sunday as it begins to move closer towards the waters east of extreme northern Luzon. The center of Mawar’s eye is forecast to be within 300 km of the Batanes-Babuyan archipelago by early next week during the slowdown period,” PAGASA said. Northern Luzon may experience heavy rains as early as Sunday evening. In addition, strong to storm-force conditions may be experienced over extreme northern Luzon, while strong to gale-force conditions are possible over the northern and eastern portions of mainland northern Luzon. PAGASA said wind signals may be raised on Friday or Saturday in anticipation of Mawar’s severe winds. It may also enhance the southwest monsoon, or “habagat,” which may bring monsoon rains over the western portions of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas beginning Sunday or Monday.

Source: Manila Bulletin (https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/25/pagasa-mawar-may-reach-peak-intensity-of-215-kph-within-24-to-36-hours)