Super Typhoon Bavi, assessed by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) as having the equivalent force of a Category 5 hurricane, makes landfall on Rota in the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands. The storm’s eye passes over Rota on Monday morning local time, and the NWS reports that the western eyewall moves over the island. Forecast intensity is described as about 180 mph (290 kph), with catastrophic winds exceeding 150 mph continuing across Rota during eyewall passage. Ahead of landfall, the NWS warns that a direct hit would make most of the island “uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer,” and issues guidance for residents to treat imminent extreme winds like a tornado approach and move to interior shelter.
After the landfall, multiple outlets report major or catastrophic damage on Rota, including severe impacts to homes and infrastructure. Separate reports say tens of thousands of people lose power on Guam and across the Northern Marianas, while no casualties are reported. The storm also affects nearby islands, including Guam, Tinian, and Saipan, as local authorities receive reports of damage.
