Super Typhoon Bavi approaches near Guam with extreme, life-threatening winds

Residents of Guam and nearby U.S. island territories are being urged to seek shelter as Super Typhoon Bavi barrels toward the region, carrying extreme and potentially life-threatening winds.

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They are currently already encountering catastrophic wind.

The massive cyclone is forecast to make landfall early Monday on Rota, a small island territory northeast of Guam, according to the National Weather Service. Meteorologist Edwin Montvila described Rota as already encountering "catastrophic wind," with an extreme wind warning in effect for the island, which has fewer than 2,000 residents.

Bavi is expected to reach Category 5 strength, with sustained winds of 150 mph or stronger. Forecasters predict winds could reach 180 mph, with gusts up to 215 mph. Typhoon warnings are in place for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan, in addition to Rota. Tropical storm warnings and watches are also active for other islands in the vicinity.

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This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Typhoon Bavi nearing the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

This storm follows Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which battered the region in April, highlighting the vulnerability of these islands to powerful cyclones. Montvila emphasized the "imminent danger to life" posed by Bavi, advising residents to move to interior rooms, stay away from windows, and not venture outside due to the risk of flying debris and downed utility poles.

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Bavi posed an "imminent danger to life," Montvila said, with the weather service telling residents across the islands to immediately move to interior rooms where they were sheltering and stay away from windows.

Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero urged residents to remain home or in shelters and avoid the roads, stating, "Here we are experiencing another severe force of winds on our island, but as we know, we are always ready and prepared in our planning and our protection of our people." Officials are hopeful that Bavi's relatively fast pace might limit the duration of tropical storm conditions, including torrential rain, which could persist through Monday night.

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Entering outside can result in death from flying projectiles. Utility poles and associated power lines will be down. All those would pose a risk to life, so we recommend people to not venture out and hunker down.