Residents of Guam and nearby U.S. island territories in the western Pacific were directed to take shelter as Super Typhoon Bavi approached, threatening an area still recovering from a destructive storm earlier this year. Bavi, a large cyclone nearing the Mariana Islands, was forecast to make landfall early Monday on Rota, a territory of fewer than 2,000 people northeast of Guam.
An extreme wind warning was in effect for Rota, where residents were already encountering catastrophic winds, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Edwin Montvila. The cyclone was projected to reach Category 5 super typhoon strength with sustained winds of up to 180 miles per hour and gusts reaching 215 miles per hour. Typhoon warnings were also issued for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan, with tropical storm warnings and watches for other islands in the vicinity.
This storm follows Super Typhoon Sinlaku, which impacted the region in April with strong winds and heavy rains. A cyclone is classified as a super typhoon when its maximum sustained winds reach 150 mph or higher.
Montvila stated that Bavi posed an "imminent danger to life," with the weather service advising residents to move to interior rooms and stay away from windows. The service warned that venturing outside could lead to death from flying debris and downed utility poles and power lines.
Officials expressed hope that the storm's relatively fast pace might lead to a quicker passage, although tropical storm conditions, including heavy rain, could persist across the islands through at least Monday night due to the storm's size. Bavi's path had been somewhat erratic overnight into Monday, moving north and south as it tracked west toward the islands.
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero encouraged residents to remain home or in shelters and to avoid unnecessary travel, emphasizing the island's preparedness for severe weather events.