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🇳🇿 New Zealand /Disasters & Emergencies

Mariana Islands Brace for Category 5 Super Typhoon Bavi

From RNZ Pacific · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Super Typhoon Bavi intensified into a Category 5 cyclone early Saturday and is expected to remain extremely dangerous as it approaches the Northern Mariana Islands.
  • Forecasters warn residents to complete preparations by Sunday morning for deteriorating conditions, with tropical storm-force winds anticipated Sunday afternoon or evening.
  • The storm's center is forecast to pass between Rota and Tinian, closer to Rota, with a typhoon watch in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.

Super Typhoon Bavi has intensified into a Category 5 cyclone and is poised to remain an extremely dangerous storm as it nears the Northern Mariana Islands. Forecasters are urging residents to finalize all preparations by Sunday morning ahead of deteriorating conditions expected to begin Sunday afternoon or evening, with tropical storm-force winds anticipated.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center, highlighted by the National Weather Service Guam, reported early Saturday that Bavi was located over 700 km east-southeast of Saipan, packing maximum sustained winds exceeding 257 km/h while moving west at approximately 16 km/h. The storm is projected to strengthen further to around 281 km/h on Sunday before a gradual weakening trend begins, though it is still expected to traverse the Marianas as a Category 5 super typhoon.

All folks in the Marianas should be considering the likelihood of the center of the typhoon passing over your island.

— Landon AydlettLandon Aydlett, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Guam, urged residents not to dismiss the possibility of a direct hit.

While the official forecast track has shifted slightly south since Friday, it continues to indicate the storm's center passing between Rota and Tinian, now closer to Rota. A typhoon watch remains active for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Landon Aydlett, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at the National Weather Service Guam, noted that Bavi underwent "explosive rapid intensification" overnight and is tracking toward the Marianas. He added that forecast confidence is high, with multiple models closely clustered around a path between Guam and Saipan.

Aydlett stressed the importance of residents not focusing on minor track changes, stating, "All folks in the Marianas should be considering the likelihood of the center of the typhoon passing over your island." He advised seeking shelter in reinforced concrete buildings and completing preparations no later than Sunday morning. Residents across the Marianas should prepare for at least tropical storm conditions, with the possibility of a direct Category 5 strike. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding are also expected, though Bavi's faster projected movement compared to Super Typhoon Sinlaku may reduce the likelihood of prolonged rain events. Nevertheless, torrential rain, damaging winds, and dangerous surf remain significant hazards.

explosive rapid intensification

— Landon AydlettLandon Aydlett described the rapid strengthening of Typhoon Bavi overnight.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by RNZ Pacific in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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