Japan's meteorological agency, JMA, said that at 6 pm on July 7, Super Typhoon Bavi was over waters east of the Philippines, packing winds of up to 185 kilometres per hour, equivalent to force 16 on the Beaufort scale, with gusts of about 259 kilometres per hour.
Super Typhoon Bavi was moving mainly west at about 26 kilometres per hour. JMA classified it as a large and very intense storm.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, or PAGASA, said Bavi had weakened slightly after sweeping across the US Mariana Islands in the western Pacific, but remained a super typhoon.
At 1 pm local time in the Philippines on the same day, the storm's centre was nearly 1,800 kilometres east of central Luzon. At that time, PAGASA recorded maximum sustained winds near the centre of 185 kilometres per hour, with gusts of 230 kilometres per hour.
The Philippine weather agency forecast that in the coming days Super Typhoon Bavi would continue moving mainly west-northwest.
The area affected by Super Typhoon Bavi (Photo: Windy).
Although the likelihood of Super Typhoon Bavi making a direct landfall on Luzon is considered low, PAGASA did not rule out strong winds in northern and north-eastern Luzon from the evening of July 7 to the morning of July 8.
Under PAGASA's current scenario, Super Typhoon Bavi could retain super typhoon strength as it moves into the Philippines, before gradually weakening as it approaches waters east of Taiwan, China.
By the morning of July 10, the storm's centre is forecast to be about 470 kilometres east-northeast of Basco Island in Batanes Province, the Philippines.
International forecast models still differ on the exact track, but Taiwan's meteorological authorities said the storm was more likely to pass north of Basco Island than make a direct landfall.
The period when the storm is expected to affect Taiwan most clearly could fall on July 10-11.
Earlier, Super Typhoon Bavi caused significant damage as it passed over Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Rota Island was hit most directly as the storm's centre swept across it with sustained winds at times reaching about 290 kilometres per hour. Heavy rain, fallen trees and damaged power lines left many people in Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Rota without electricity, while water supplies were also disrupted in some areas.
For Vietnam, meteorological authorities said the likelihood of Bavi entering the East Sea is currently low. However, the super typhoon's very broad circulation could still have an indirect impact on the East Sea.
From July 9, south-westerly winds in the southern East Sea, including the Truong Sa waters, are expected to strengthen gradually.
On July 10-11, winds across the northern, central and southern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, could reach force 6-7, with waves 3-5 metres high and very rough seas.
Meteorological authorities warned vessels operating in offshore waters to closely monitor forecast bulletins, proactively adjust their routes and avoid dangerous areas as strong winds and large waves increase under the indirect influence of Super Typhoon Bavi.