27th May 2023 – (Okinawa) Japan’s weather agency has issued a warning that Typhoon Mawar is likely to approach the southwestern prefecture of Okinawa as early as next Tuesday. As of 3pm local time on Saturday, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that Typhoon Mawar was moving westward at a speed of 25 km per hour in the waters east of the Philippines. It is expected to gradually decelerate as it moves over the sea and eventually turn north, possibly approaching the Okinawa islands as early as Tuesday. The JMA warns that the typhoon may bring high waves to the Okinawa and Amami regions and intense winds to the Sakishima Islands in Okinawa, depending on its trajectory.
The JMA also warned that moist air from the typhoon could intersect with a rain front projected to progress from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific side, leading to an extended period of heavy rainfall across eastern and western Japan. The agency advised the public to check hazard maps and seek shelter in preparation for the upcoming rainy season.
As the season’s second named storm and first typhoon, Typhoon Mawar possesses a central atmospheric pressure of 925 hectopascals, packing winds of up to 180 km per hour near its centre, according to the JMA. Its maximum wind gusts reached 252 km per hour, and gale-force winds are exceeding 90 km per hour within a radius of 185 km from the typhoon’s centre.
The Japanese government is closely monitoring the situation and has urged residents to take precautions to ensure their safety. The country is no stranger to natural disasters, including typhoons, which can cause significant damage and loss of life. In recent years, Japan has made significant efforts to improve its disaster response and preparedness, but the threat of typhoons and other natural disasters remains a major concern.