Super Typhoon Bavi, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 180 mph, is moving across the Northern Mariana Islands.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued typhoon warnings for the islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.
On Monday morning local time, the eye of the storm was passing over the island of Rota. “Widespread destructive winds in excess of 150 mph are occurring,” the NWS said. Rota is located some 40 miles northeast of Guam.
Local NWS meteorologist Landon Aydlett spoke to NPR from central Guam just after 1:30 a.m. on Monday local time. He said weather conditions were steadily deteriorating across all four populated islands, including torrential rain and strengthening winds.
“This is a powerhouse super typhoon and this is going to be a very grim outlook for any island that takes a direct hit and that still looks like it could be the island of Rota,” said Aydlett, who had been awake for nearly 24 hours tracking the super typhoon. “It’s going to be probably near catastrophic for the entire island.”
The western eyewall is raking across the island. Forecasters note that the eastern end of the island has temporarily broken into the calm eye, but urge residents not to go outside, as destructive winds over 150 mph will suddenly resume from the opposite direction.
The storm is generating massive wave action with hazardous surf and a coastal storm surge. Torrential rainfall is triggering severe flash flood alerts across all affected islands.
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