Residents of the remote U.S.territories of Guam and the other Northern Mariana Islands are preparing for the arrival of Super Typhoon Bavi, which is forecast to cause severe damage.The rapidly intensifying typhoon is expected to pass through the region Monday morning local time and potentially bring catastrophic damage to the territories in the Pacific Ocean, as Isla Public Media has reported.The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued typhoon warnings for the islands of Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, the capital of the Northern Mariana Islands.Local NWS meteorologist Landon Aydlett spoke to NPR from central Guam just after 1:30 a.m.
on Monday local time.He said weather conditions were steadily deteriorating across all four populated islands, including torrential rain and strengthening winds."This is a powerhouse super typhoon and this is going to be a very grim outlook for any island that takes a direct hit and that still looks like it could be the island of Rota," said Aydlett, who had been awake for nearly 24 hours tracking the super typhoon.
"It's going to be probably near catastrophic for the entire island."Rota is northeast of Guam.The super typhoon was moving north with maximum sustained winds of 165 miles per hour on Sunday, according to Guam's Joint Information Center.The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) estimates that Bavi's winds could strengthen to 180 miles per hour as it passes over the islands, which is a major category five storm.
Structural damage, fallen trees and power outages are expected.The JTWC designates tropical cyclones with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour or greater within the western north Pacific as super typhoons.Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero transitioned the island into a heightened status of emergency readiness on Sunday."We want you to all be making sure that you are prepared," Guerrero said during a press briefing."Be safe in your homes and please do not travel the roads, stay out of the waters and be safe."Accordin...