Key facts
- Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on the island of Rota in the western Pacific.
- The storm brought winds that could reach 180 mph with gusts of 215 mph.
- Typhoon warnings were in effect for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.
- Residents were advised to seek shelter and stay away from windows due to flying projectiles and downed utility poles.
- The area was impacted by a destructive cyclone earlier this year.
Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall on Monday over Rota, a small U.S. territorial island in the western Pacific near Guam, bringing powerful winds and torrential rain. The National Weather Service reported that the storm began passing over Rota on Monday morning local time, with residents urged to stay indoors. The typhoon threatened other parts of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory east of the Philippines, as well as Guam. This region is still recovering from another destructive cyclone earlier this year.
Edwin Montvila, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, stated that Rota was experiencing "catastrophic wind." An extreme wind warning was in effect for the island. The cyclone was forecast to be a category five super typhoon, with sustained winds potentially reaching 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 215 miles per hour (346 kilometers per hour).
In addition to Rota, typhoon warnings were issued for Guam, Tinian, and Saipan. Tropical storm warnings and watches were in place for other islands in the vicinity. Montvila emphasized the "imminent danger to life" posed by Bavi, advising residents to move to interior rooms, stay away from windows, and "hunker down" due to the risk of flying projectiles and downed utility poles.
Despite the severe warnings, Bavi was moving at a relatively fast pace on Monday morning, offering some hope for a quick passage. However, due to the storm's size, tropical storm conditions, including heavy rainfall, were expected to persist through at least Monday night. Montvila noted that the typhoon had been "a bit erratic" overnight, wavering in its path toward the islands.
Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero encouraged residents to remain home or in shelters and to avoid the roads, stating that the island was prepared for the severe winds. Meanwhile, Rev. Francis Hezel, a priest in Dededo, Guam, noted that while winds were howling, he anticipated more of an inconvenience than widespread structural damage due to concrete homes. He also suggested that officials might "tone down" warnings as residents are accustomed to typhoons.