Super Typhoon Bavi hits Guam and Northern Mariana Islands with Category 5 winds
Super Typhoon Bavi, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 mph, is battering Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, prompting emergency declarations and shelter openings across the U.S. territories.
The National Weather Service issued typhoon warnings for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan as Super Typhoon Bavi moved west-northwest with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph, classifying it as a Category 5 super typhoon. On Monday morning the storm’s eye passed over Rota, where winds exceeding 150 mph were reported, and forecasters described the situation as extremely dangerous.
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero placed the island on heightened emergency readiness, urging residents to stay indoors, avoid travel and keep away from the water. Emergency shelters on the islands have been opened and are nearing capacity, particularly for residents in low-lying areas and those living in structures made of wood or tin.
Local NWS meteorologist Landon Aydlett warned that conditions are deteriorating across all four populated islands, with torrential rain, strengthening winds and a high risk of flash flooding that could affect schools and hospitals. Power outages have already been reported on Guam, some flights were canceled and the Port Authority suspended operations.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center defines any tropical cyclone in the western North Pacific with sustained winds of 150 mph or higher as a super typhoon. Officials continue to advise residents to remain sheltered until the storm passes, aiming to prevent fatalities.
