After rapidly strengthening, Typhoon Mawar became the most intense storm of 2023, based on Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC).

The JWTC said Mawar’s peak winds had increased to 175 mph, accompanied by gusts of nearly 210 mph.

The storm also surpassed the strength of any hurricane recorded in 2022 and is now equivalent to a Category 5 super typhoon.

These unprecedented wind speeds put the storm in the strongest annual storm ever recorded in May.

Super Typhoon Mawar has entered the Philippine surveillance area, where it is currently being referred to as “Betty” by observers.

The Philippines uses its own name for hurricanes that enter 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 storms have reached Category 5 in May since 1950. Mawar will be the ninth.

Hurricane season typically runs from April to December. Hurricanes that achieve Category 5 equivalent status early in the season are rare.

Super Typhoon Maway may weaken slightly as it moves west of the Philippines.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration issued an advisory noting that the storm is likely to enter their monitoring area on Saturday and predicts that the storm will move. slow down during the day.

Services said the storm would also weaken significantly on Monday.

“MAWAR is forecast to remain in super typhoon status tonight through the weekend, although slight weakness remains,” PAGASA wrote. “However, this tropical storm is likely to weaken at a faster rate starting Monday during a slowdown due to potential adverse conditions (e.g., effects of colder ocean waters and the infiltration of dry air), although it is predicted to remain a hurricane by the end of the forecast period.”

A wave warning has been issued for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands ahead of Hurricane Mawar, according to the National Weather Service. That warning will continue through Saturday and cover the risk of offshore currents.

The agency also said there was a chance of heavy rain and flooding Friday night in the area.

The Philippines is considered the most tropical cyclone-hit country in the world, with about 20 typhoons entering the Philippine Area of ​​Responsibility (PAR), the ocean area the country monitors every year.

As the country once again prepares for the onslaught of this powerful storm, here are some of the most powerful storms that have ravaged the country in recent times.