Tropical storm Bavi lurking near Marianas

Residents of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) are being urged to stay informed as tropical storm Bavi intensifies and moves closer to the region. Governor David Apatang has advised residents of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to closely follow weather updates as the storm approaches.

According to the National Weather Service in Guam, satellite imagery indicates that Bavi is a broad and strengthening storm, with projections suggesting it will become a typhoon within the next 24 hours. The storm is expected to continue gaining strength over the coming days as it tracks west-northwest toward the Marianas. The potential path could see Bavi passing anywhere from south of Guam to north of Anatahan, necessitating ongoing adjustments to the forecast track.

Forecasters predict that Saipan, Tinian, and Rota could experience tropical storm conditions as early as Sunday night, with the possibility of typhoon conditions on Monday. Seas are expected to begin building on Saturday as swell from Bavi approaches, becoming hazardous by Saturday afternoon. In response to the approaching storm, officials have canceled the 80th Liberation Day parade.

This alert comes as parts of the CNMI are still grappling with the aftermath of super typhoon Sinlaku, which caused widespread devastation in April. Many residents remain without electricity, and the super typhoon inflicted significant damage on local infrastructure and the economy, reportedly wiping out up to 60 percent of livestock on Saipan. The impact was so severe that the CNMI Public School System decided to end the 2025-2026 school year early due to the devastation, rather than reopening campuses. Just weeks ago, the US Army Corps of Engineers announced the completion of deinstalling emergency generators that had been supporting critical infrastructure following Sinlaku.

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Seas are expected to start building Saturday, as swell from Bavi approaches the Marianas. Seas are expected to become hazardous as soon as Saturday afternoon.