Japanese weather officials are warning a very strong typhoon now east of the Philippines may approach Japan's southwestern prefecture of Okinawa next week. Typhoon Mawar could bring rough weather to wide areas even far away from the region.
Japan's Meteorological Agency says Mawar was moving westward at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour in waters east of the Philippines as of 6 a.m. on Saturday.
Mawar had a central atmospheric pressure of 915 hectopascals. Around its center, it was packing winds of up to 198 kilometers per hour. Maximum wind gusts reached 270 kilometers per hour. Gale-force winds of more than 90 kilometers per hour were blowing in a 185-kilometer radius from its center.
Mawar is expected to turn north after gradually losing force moving westward over the sea.
The typhoon could come close to the Okinawa islands as early as Tuesday, bringing high waves to the Okinawa and Amami regions. The Sakishima Islands in Okinawa could be hit by ferocious winds from around Tuesday.
Moist air from the typhoon may blow into a rain front that is forecast to hang over Japan's main island of Honshu, bringing heavy rain next week.
Weather officials are advising the public to stay updated on typhoon information.