The state weather bureau on Friday afternoon, May 26,  said tropical cyclone wind signals (TCWS) may be raised as early as Saturday, May 27, in preparation for strong to storm-force winds that super typhoon Mawar may bring. (Screen grab / PAGASA)
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Weather Specialist Daniel Villamil on Friday afternoon warned of strong to storm-force winds that may be experienced in the provinces of extreme Northern Luzon due to Mawar. Meanwhile, gale-force winds may prevail in the northern and eastern parts of mainland Luzon. This, according to Villamil, is why wind signals may be raised as early as Saturday. “As early as tomorrow evening or afternoon, pwede na tayong magtaas ng wind signal sa mga nabaggit na lugar in preparation sa malakas na hangin na dala ni super typhoon Mawar (We may raise wind signals as early as tomorrow evening or afternoon in preparation for the strong winds that super typhoon Mawar may bring),” said Villamil in a public weather forecast. Last seen 1,725 kilometers (km) east of Central Luzon outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), Mawar is packing maximum winds of 215 kph and gustiness of up to 265 kph. PAGASA’s current forecast track showed that the weather disturbance may still enter the Philippine boundary tonight or early Saturday morning. Once inside PAR, it will be called “Betty.”

Mawar-enhanced habagat

While Mawar remained less likely to hit or traverse the Philippine landmass, it may still affect parts of the country. Apart from the strong winds and heavy rains that it may trigger in Northern and Extreme Northern Luzon, the weather disturbance may also enhance the southwest monsoon, locally called “habagat.” “Sa mga susunod na araw, itong areas ng Cagayan Valley at northern portion ng Aurora ay makakaranas ng direktang epekto ni Mawar, samantalang ang kanlurang bahagi ng bansa, western section of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, at Visayas ay makakaranas ng pag-ulan na dala ng habagat (In the next few days, these areas of Cagayan Valley and the northern portion of Aurora will experience the direct effects of Mawar, while the western part of the country, western section of Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, and Visayas will experience rains brought by the southwest monsoon),” Villamil explained. Beginning Sunday, May 28 until Tuesday, May 30, key cities of the country which include Metro Manila, Baguio, Legazpi, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, may expect cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to Mawar-enhanced southwest monsoon.