After rapid intensification, Typhoon Mawar has become the most intense storm of 2023, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC).

Mawar’s peak winds have surged to 175 mph, accompanied by gusts nearing 210 mph, JWTC said.

The typhoon has also surpassed the strength of any storm recorded in 2022 and now stands equivalent to a category 5 super typhoon.

These unprecedented wind speeds have brought the typhoon into the ranks of the five most powerful typhoons ever documented in the month of May.

After parts of Mawar passed over Guam, the storm is now headed west toward the Philippines and Taiwain, further intensifying and threatening to bring heavy rains and gusts of wind.

Originating about 865km south of Guam, the typhoon battered the Pacific Island US territory on Wednesday.

It began moving westwards and is now expected to move toward the northern part of Luzon, Philippines and Taiwan.

While the current projections show it may not make a direct landfall in the Philippines, the state weather agency PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility (See post below).

The weather agency said the storm can take a southern turn from its projected path and can make a landfall in the northern region of Luzon.

However, the chances of that happening are currently “slim”, according to Ana Clauren-Jorda, PAGASA weather specialist quoted by CNN Philippines.

It is currently located 622km west-northwest of Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and has moved westward at 22kmh (12 knots) over the past six hours towards the Philippines Area of Responsibility (PAR).

However, the rapid intensification of the typhoon, after it weakened while it struck Guam, has worried experts with PAGASA stating it can reach its peak within the next 24 hours.

Jim Yang, a researcher at the China Meteorological Association, said in a Twitter post it was possible that parts of the typhoon would make landfall in China.

Mr Yang added that Mawar can “maintain high intensity for 2 to 3 days”.

Super Typhoon Marwa is only the ninth storm of its kind since 1950 to reach a Category 5 status in the month of May — just one month into typhoon season.

To understand better how the climate crisis has made hurricanes and typhoons more powerful, read The Independent’s explanation below:

Super Typhoon Mawar has crossed into the Philippines monitoring reigion, where it is now being referred to as “Betty” by monitors.

The Philippines uses its own names for typhoons that enters its “area of responsibility.”

The storm is a Category 5, but is not expected to make significant landfall in the Philippines at its current strength.

Only eight other typhoons have reached a Category 5 status in May since 1950. Mawar will be the ninth.

Typhoon season typically lasts from April until December. Typhoons gaining a Category 5 equivalent status this early in the season are typically rare.

The Maway super typhoon may weaken slightly on its westward approach to the Philipines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued an advisory noting that the storm would likely enter its monitoring region on Saturday, and predicted that the storm would slow over the course of the day.

The services said the storm will also weaken substantially on Monday.

“MAWAR is forecast to remain as a super typhoon tonight until the weekend, although the chance of slight weakening still remains,” PAGASA wrote. “However, this tropical cyclone may weaken at faster rate beginning on Monday during its slowdown period due to potential unfavorable conditions (e.g., effect of upwelling of cooler ocean water and dry air intrusion), although it is expected to remain as a typhoon by the end of the forecast period.”