Bavi is now a typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour projected to increase as it heads closer to the Marianas, the National Weather Service Guam reported July 3, 8 a.m.
According to Landon Aydlett NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist, the latest forecast maintains a Marianas heading, with potential to pass near or just south of Tinian. Aydlett, said it also has the potential to reach 160 mph “super typhoon” strength at time of passage.
Residents urged to prepare, lines at home improvement stores quickly grew stretching out the door Friday morning as Aydlett cautioned to have final storm preparations complete by Sunday evening at the latest.
In the community, residents and businesses batten down for the storm which Aydlett said was roughly two to three days away from passage. He noted that between now and then, changes could occur in the tracking to include timing and intensity.
“However, the present outlook remains a grim one for any number of islands. Continue to prepare and stay tuned as the event continues to unfold,” Aydlett said.
As of 7:30 a.m. Bavi was centered about 760 miles east of Guam and 715 miles east-southeast of Saipan, moving west-northwest at 14 mph. Aydlett noted that “the environment is optimal for rapid intensification, which could start immediately.”