Typhoon Champi Intensifies to Category 4, Approaches Guam

Typhoon Champi strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm on Saturday as it moved toward Guam, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The U.S. island territory and nearby Rota are under a typhoon warning. A tropical storm warning has been issued for Tinian, Saipan, and surrounding areas.

Champi was intensifying and moving west toward Guam at 15 mph (23 kph), with maximum sustained winds increasing to 100 mph (160 kph), the U.S. Weather Service and the U.S. Navy's Meteorology and Oceanography Command reported.

In a separate development, Hurricane Trudy was moving toward southwestern and west-central Mexico's Pacific coast. Forecasters expected Trudy to continue growing through Saturday, with its center approaching the coast and passing near it into Sunday. A hurricane warning was in effect from Manzanillo in Colima state to Cabo Corrientes in Jalisco.

On Friday night, Trudy was a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 kph). The storm was located about 240 miles (385 kilometers) west-southwest of Acapulco and 215 miles (345 kilometers) south-southeast of Manzanillo, moving northwest at 8 mph (13 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

The Mexican navy advised maritime communities and coastal residents to exercise extreme caution due to the potential for high waves, heavy rains, and rising river levels, which could lead to flooding and landslides in susceptible regions. While Colima state officials indicated low current risks, they warned that the storm could produce significant rainfall that might cause damage, particularly given the saturated ground from previous storms impacting the Pacific coast.

Trudy was anticipated to bring 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) of rain through the weekend, with isolated totals potentially reaching 15 inches.