Swipe to see weather updates ➡️
Super Typhoon Sinlaku maintained maximum sustained winds of 180 mph Monday afternoon as it continued its northwest march toward the Marianas, with its forecast track now firmly centered on Tinian and Saipan and Guam falling outside the forecast cone for the first time.
As of the noon briefing, Sinlaku was positioned near 12.5 degrees north, 148.6 degrees east, moving northwest at 9 mph. The storm is forecast to pass through the Northern Marianas as a Category 4 typhoon with 145 mph winds, arriving near Tinian and Saipan Tuesday afternoon to around sunset.
Tinian and Saipan face the gravest threat, with Category 4 conditions, torrential rainfall of 12 to 20 inches and wave heights potentially reaching 40 to 50 feet.
Rota’s threat has decreased with the northward shift. Low-end Category 1 typhoon conditions are now expected, though that could improve further if the track continues nudging north.
Guam remains under a Tropical Storm Warning and Typhoon Watch, with sustained winds of 50 to 60 mph and stronger gusts expected after 8 p.m. tonight, continuing through Wednesday. Significant flooding remains a concern with 36 to 40 hours of tropical storm conditions forecast.
“Even though we have a super typhoon passing through the Marianas, Guam getting only tropical storm conditions doesn’t mean the storm has weakened,” NWS Meteorologist-in-Charge Brandon Aydlett said. “It means we are far enough away from the center that we are in the tropical storm windfield.”
Forecast updates are available every six hours at weather.gov/gum. The GBHWC Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988.
This Storm Update is brought to you by Storm Sponsors: Tenorio Muna Barnes-Building Guam’s future together and Wise Owl Animal Hospital.
