THE impact of Super Typhoon "Mawar" will be felt starting this weekend as it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) either Friday night or early Saturday morning, the state-run weather bureau said.

To be known locally as "Betty," the typhoon will bring heavy rains over Northern Luzon starting Sunday night, according to weather specialist Benison Estareja of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

"Also, it will likely enhance the southwest monsoon or habagat which will trigger rains over the western portions of Southern Luzon, Central Luzon and Visayas starting on Sunday or Monday," Estareja said.

As of 3 a.m., Pagasa said Mawar was some 1, 740 kilometers east of southwestern Luzon, moving westward at 20 kilometers per hour (kph).

It has maximum sustained winds of 215kph near the center and gustiness of up to 265kph, the state weather bureau said.

In the meantime, the southwesterly wind flow will be affecting the western sections of Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao over the next 24 hours.

Pagasa said overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will be likely over Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos) and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao).

Along with the localized thunderstorms, Mawar will also affect Metro Manila and the rest of the country where partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated downpours or thunderstorms may prevail.

In a previous forecast, Pagasa said Mawar was unlikely to make landfall.