Super Typhoon Mawar threatens to directly reach the U.S. territory of Guam. Credit: CNN Weather

(CNN) -- Super Typhoon Mawar is heading toward Guam on Tuesday, threatening to hit the U.S. territory as the strongest cyclone in more than 60 years.


The typhoon, which has strengthened rapidly in recent days, poses a "triple threat" of devastation, with deadly winds equivalent to those of a Category 5 hurricane, exceptional storm surge and torrential rains, according to the National Weather Service office in Guam.

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Mawar has been described as "one who will be remembered for decades," said Landon Aydlett, coordinating meteorologist for the weather service in Guam. It is expected to hit the island, and possibly make direct landfall, this Wednesday afternoon, local time (around or just after midnight on Wednesday, Eastern Time).

If the typhoon made direct landfall, the island would be battered by the strongest possible winds and high storm surge.

Although Guam is located in the western Pacific Ocean, an area prone to the world's strongest tropical cyclones, the direct impact of a cyclone of this strength is extremely rare, and has only occurred about eight times in the past 75 years. The island is just 50 kilometers long, so the center of a storm moving over it would be like threading a tiny needle.

Forecasters warn that Mawar could strengthen further on Tuesday, potentially reaching the equivalent of a Category 5 hurricane, with winds exceeding 252 kilometers per hour, before making landfall. If this were to happen, Mawar would be the fifth cyclone equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the planet to date this year, the average number of an entire calendar year, and hurricane and typhoon seasons are just beginning.

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It would also be the strongest cyclone to directly hit Guam since Super Typhoon Karen in 1962, which is considered the worst storm to hit the island, with sustained winds of 276.8 km/h.

Super Typhoon Mawar threatens to directly reach the U.S. territory of Guam. Credit: CNN Weather

Human-caused climate change favours the emergence of more intense storms such as Super Typhoon Mawar. Not only do these systems generate more precipitation and storm surges, but they are also more likely to be stronger and intensify more quickly.

Mawar suffered a rapid intensification between Monday and Tuesday, with maximum winds that increased 80 km / h in just 18 hours. Scientists warn that the rapid intensification of tropical cyclones, such as typhoons and hurricanes, is more likely as ocean temperatures rise and lay the groundwork for cyclones to increase at a breakneck pace and become deadly storms.

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If winds reach category 5 ratings, buildings that are not reinforced with concrete are likely to suffer significant damage, significant roof damage and strong winds generate projectiles that are thrown off.

"Power and water may not be available for days and perhaps weeks after the storm passes" and "most trees will split or be uprooted," the Guam weather service warned. Up to 70% of the island's foliage could be uprooted by Mawar's powerful winds.

An exceptional storm surge of up to 7.6 metres will pose a significant risk to life and property on the island, especially in the most vulnerable coastal areas close to the typhoon's eyewall.

According to the National Weather Service, storm surges are historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the United States. This level of storm surge will likely cause severe coastal erosion and "large vessels could be torn from their moorings," according to the weather service.

In addition to coastal flooding caused by storm surge, flash flooding is possible, as the storm is forecast to dump between 254 and 380 mm of rain, with locally higher amounts of up to 508 mm.

A flood warning was now in place across the area, as the intensity of the rain will increase as the cyclone approaches. The weather service warned that "heavier rainfall" is possible if the typhoon slows down.

Landslides are also likely to occur as the soil becomes saturated and the mountainous terrain becomes unstable.

--CNN's Brandon Miller contributed to this report.

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