Super Typhoon Hagupit - on track to be the world's most powerful storm this year - is approaching the Philippines.

Out over the ocean, the storm was displaying its formidable force, generating maximum sustained winds of around 287 kilometers per hour (178 mph), the equivalent of a strong Category 5 hurricane, according to the U.S. military's Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The storm was about 800 miles east of the Philippines and could be near the island nation by Saturday.

Year's worst storm threatens Philippines

A west-northwest track would place the central Philippines in the threat zone, including areas still recovering from deadly Super Typhoon Haiyan 13 months ago, the most intense tropical cyclone at landfall in history, the Weather Channel said.

Haiyan killed more than 6,000 people.