Despite being early in the season, Mitag intensified significantly to the east of the Philippines. On March 2, an eye was observed on satellite imagery in the center of the deepest convection. Late that day, Mitag passed just south of the island of Yap in the FSM. On March 3, the typhoon entered the area of warning responsibility of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); the agency gave it the local name "Basyang". An approaching deep-layer trough turned the typhoon to the northwest and later to the north. Although southwesterly wind shear was expected to restrict intensification, Mitag turned to the northeast in the same direction as the shear, causing the outflow to increase. After completing an eyewall replacement cycle, very deep convection surrounded the eye, and Dvorak numbers peaked at 7.0. On this basis, the JTWC upgraded Mitag to a super typhoon on March 5, estimating peak winds of 260 km/h (160 mph ) while the storm was located about 610 km (380 mi) east of Catanduanes in the Philippines. This made it the only super typhoon on record in the month until Typhoon Maysak of 2015. Also on March 5, the JMA estimated peak winds of 175 km/h (110 mph ), PAGASA assessed the same intensity as JMA, and the National Meteorological Centre of China estimated peak winds of 205 km/h (125 mph ). For about a day, the typhoon maintained its peak winds, before increasing wind shear and cool, dry air imparted significant weakening. In a 24‑hour period, the JTWC estimated that winds decreased by 110 km/h (70 mph ) while the storm turned to the northeast, and on March 7, Mitag weakened below typhoon-force. A surge in the monsoon combined with the upper-level Westerlies displaced the low-level circulation from the upper-level center, causing the low-level system to turn to the east and south. On March 8, the JTWC issued its last advisory, and Mitag dissipated on March 9.