The National Weather Service Guam's midnight Special Weather Statement on July 3 reported Tropical Storm Bavi is organizing north of Pohnpei, 930 miles east of Guam and 885 miles east-southeast of Saipan. Officials anticipate it reaching typhoon-strength conditions within 24 hours.

NWS is tracking Bavi moving west-northwest at 15 mph, with a "very broad, strengthening storm with deep convection becoming well-consolidated around the center. Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph."

That intensity is anticipated to increase to 90 mph — typhoon-strength winds — within 24 hours.

"Bavi is forecast to continue strengthening over the next few days as it moves west-northwest toward the Marianas, potentially arriving to the islands as a strong Category 4, or even Category 5 typhoon, with forecasted maximum sustained winds of 155 mph," the Special Weather Statement states.

Forecasters said model guidance supports "an eventual track" between Rota and Tinian, but stressed that "certainty on the exact path through the Marianas remains low. Bavi could potentially pass anywhere from south of Guam to north of Anatahan in the northern Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)."

Over the next several days, officials noted adjustments would be made to the forecast track and timing.

"Tropical Storm Bavi may arrive to the Marianas sometime around late Sunday through Monday, but be prepared for changes in the expected time of arrival if Bavi speeds up, or slows down," NWS said.

Bavi will likely bring "widespread heavy rainfall" to the Marianas.

"Rainfall totals from island to island will greatly depend on the eventual storm track, but current model ensemble guidance supports a range of rainfall totals from 6 to 11 inches across the Marianas," NWS said.

However, locally higher amounts of up to 15 inches are possible "closer to the center."

"There is still plenty of uncertainty in forecasted rainfall totals with Bavi still around 72 hours out, but prepare for the likelihood of heavy rainfall capable of producing localized flooding," NWS said.

Seas are anticipated to increase to between 25 and 35 feet during Bavi's passage, with seas up to 40 feet near the storm's center.

NWS urged residents to prepare for "potential significant coastal inundation with a strong typhoon passage through the Marianas."