Flood watch issued through Tuesday as Guam enters COR 3

As of 4 p.m. Friday, a flood watch was issued through Tuesday night for Guam, which was placed in Condition of Readiness (COR) 3 an hour prior by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero based on forecast projections from the National Weather Service (NWS).

Typhoon Bavi’s rapid intensification throughout the day concerned NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Landon Aydlett, who in a 4:30 p.m. update said “we are seeing the birth of a monster for the region.”

“This poses a significant threat to ... Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan,” he added, noting Bavi was as of 1 p.m. “a strong Category 2 typhoon.”

Aydlett tied the “imminent threat” to the shifts and wobbles Bavi is expected to make over the next few days, as the storm has begun turning west at 15 mph.

“Eventually it’s going to turn back to the west-northwest,” he said, noting it continues on a heading toward the Marianas “somewhere between Guam and Saipan.”