Hurricane Mawar continued to strengthen in the Pacific on Monday as Guam authorities urged residents to prepare and stay out of the water.
A hurricane warning was in effect for Guam, a US territory, and Rota, a nearby island, the National Weather Service said. Damaging winds are expected for the next 24 hours, through Wednesday night.
Just before 6 p.m. local time, Mawar had maximum sustained winds of about 100 miles per hour, said Brandon Bukunt, a meteorologist with the Guam Weather Service. He said Mawar has yet to form a true eye but is expected to intensify into a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 115 mph.
The storm is expected to continue to strengthen and intensify, and forecasts project that it will reach Guam by Wednesday morning.
The biggest impact of the storm will start on Tuesday night and will increase overnight into Wednesday, Mr. Bukunt said.
As the storm approaches the islands, its winds will “intensify,” Mr. Bukunt, and rain bands outside could bring heavy downpours, increasing the chance of flooding, including in Guam, which is home to Andersen Air Force Base.
The difference between typhoon and typhoon is only in name, and based on geography. Typhoon is used for tropical storms that develop in the northwest Pacific and affect Asia. Elsewhere, they are called typhoons.
“The system will make a little wobble, like a snake going through the grass,” said Patrick Doll, the Weather Service’s lead meteorologist. “It can travel in a general direction, but you have a shock here and there. And the key is, when that shock occurs and with what force, that determines if there is a direct hit.”
The Weather Service issued a high surf advisory early Monday, saying large waves breaking seven to nine feet were building as Mawar approached. Guam officials are also asking residents to stay out of the water.
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero of Guam and Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson put the island and its military bases on alert Saturday for potentially damaging winds, according to a statement from the base.
The statement added that “all military installations on Guam are currently securing facilities, and residents are encouraged to initiate severe weather preparedness efforts.”
Storms can form throughout the year but usually from May to October.
Mawar, a Malaysian name meaning “rose,” is the second named storm in the Western Pacific this season. The first, Tropical Storm Sanvu, weakened in less than two days.
Lauren McCarthy and Derrick Bryson Taylor contributed to the report.
