Super Typhoon Mawar intensifies further while moving westward outside PAR

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — Super Typhoon Mawar slightly gained strength as it continued to move westward over the Pacific Ocean outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the Philippines' weather bureau reported on Thursday.

With the threat of the storm, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is preparing for the possible effects of the super typhoon.

"Pinaghahandaan din natin ang magiging epekto nito hindi lamang sa hilagang bahagi ng bansa, kundi sa lahat ng lugar na posibleng maapektuhan ng bagyo," he said Thursday.

[Translation: We are preparing for the effects of Mawar not only in the northern part of the country, but in all areas that could be affected.]

"Sa pulong kasama si DND [Department of National Defense] Sec. Carlito Galvez, siniguro natin na naka pre-position ang pondo at food packs, naka-standby ang response teams, at handa na ang mga LGU [local government units] sa mga lugar na tatamaan ng bagyo," the president added.

[Translation: In a meeting with DND Sec. Carlito Galvez, we ensured that funds and food packs have been pre-positioned, response teams are on standby, and LGUs of areas that would be hit by Mawar are ready.]

In its 11 p.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Mawar was located 1,840 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon.

The typhoon has a strength of 205 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 250 km/h.

But Mawar remains outside of the country's weather monitoring area and still has no direct effect on any part of the Philippines, PAGASA added.

Mawar may enter the country’s weather monitoring area on Friday evening or Saturday morning.

The super typhoon is forecast to continue intensifying in the next three days and may reach a peak intensity of 215 km/h within 24 to 36 hours. Mawar is then forecast to weaken but may remain a typhoon until Tuesday.

PAGASA said the hoisting of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals over some areas is possible within the next few days.

The super typhoon’s rain bands will bring heavy rains over Cagayan Valley from Sunday until Tuesday next week.

Mawar is also seen to trigger monsoon rains over the western portions of Luzon and Visayas beginning on Sunday or Monday.

The public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned are advised to continue monitoring for updates related to this tropical cyclone.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Raffy Alejandro told CNN Philippines the agency has intensified its information dissemination in areas that will be possibly affected by Mawar.

He also said authorities are making sure there is enough supply of relief goods, and search and rescue teams were told to be on standby.

Preemptive evacuation is possible, specifically in Batanes and the coastal towns of Cagayan, Alejandro added.