MANILA — There is a slim chance that Super Typhoon “Mawar” may landfall in the country’s landmass, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Wednesday.
Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said, this comes as Mawar’s track is seen to traverse towards Taiwan and Japan.
Currently, the super typhoon is located 2,215 kilometers east of Visayas, according to Badrina.
“Base sa pinakahuling datos natin, posible po na ang magiging track ng Bagyong Mawar ay papunta po sa bahagi ng Taiwan, maaaring hindi ito mag-landfall, pupunta na sa bahagi ng Japan at maaari itong mag-recurve. Ito po ay isang scenario at maaari pang magbago.
“Maliit pa din ang tiyansa na ito ay tumama sa kalupaan ng Pilipinas pero mas tintignan po natin na posible ito mag-trigger ito ng pagpapalakas ng hanging habagat,” Badrina added.
However, Badrina said the super typhoon could still enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday or Saturday.
“Base po sa ating datos posible po na pumasok ito ng PAR araw ng Biyernes o Sabado. Medyo bumabagal po siya kaya malaki ang posibilidad na sa Sabado ito pumasok ng PAR,” he explained.
Once it enters the PAR, the typhoon will be given the local name “Betty.”
It would be the second storm to hit the country this year and the first this month. (John Eric Mendoza © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
