Tropical Storm Mawar is expected to strengthen as it moves toward Guam

Rapidly strengthening in the Pacific Ocean, Tropical Storm Mawar was expected to become a powerful typhoon, threatening to bring high winds and possible flooding to the Mariana Islands, including Guam, the National Weather Service said.

The storm, which formed early Sunday morning local time and slowly moved north, could hit Guam, a U.S. territory, as early as Tuesday, said Brandon Bukunt, a meteorologist with the Weather Service.

“We may have to issue typhoon warnings expecting typhoon conditions,” Mr Bukunt said. “But for now, given the uncertainty, we have a typhoon watch, which means typhoon conditions are possible within two days.”

Tropical Storm Mawar had maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour as of 5 p.m. local time Sunday, when it was about 475 miles southeast of Guam, the weather service said. said.

To classify the storm as a typhoon, wind speeds would have to exceed 74 mph, Mr. Bukunt said. The weather service said the storm was expected to reach typhoon conditions later Sunday night.

As the storm approaches the islands, the winds will “reinforce,” he said, and outer downpours could bring heavy downpours, increasing the likelihood of flooding, including in Guam, home to Andersen Air Force Base.

Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Vice Admiral Benjamin Nicholson on Saturday warned the island and its military bases of possible destructive winds, according to a statement from the base.

The base added that “all military installations on Guam are currently securing facilities, and residents are urged to prepare for severe weather.”

Typhoons can form all year round, but are most common from May to October.

Tropical Storm Mawar, a Malay name meaning “rose,” is the second named storm in the Western Pacific this season. The first, Tropical Storm Sanvurapidly weakened in less than two days.