Typhoon Mangkhut continues to organize and intensify as it heads toward the Marianas. The National Weather Service (NWS), Guam Weather Forecast Office are continuing to monitor the storm. Currently, Guam remains in Condition of Readiness (COR 3), which means damaging winds of 39-57 mph are expected within 48 hours. Governor Calvo will declare COR 3 at 7 p.m. Sunday. At 1 p.m. the center of Typhoon Mangkhut was located near Latitude 15.1 degrees north and Longitude 154 degrees east. Typhoon Mangkhut is moving west at 23 mph. This motion is expected to continue through Tuesday, taking Mangkhut through the Mariana Islands Monday night. Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 30 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center p to 130 miles to the north and up to 75 miles to the south.
Category 4 Typhoon is referred to as a “Very Strong Typhoon” with maximum sustained winds of 130-156 and peak gusts of 165-198 mph.
Category 5 Typhoon is referred to as a “Devastating Typhoon” with maximum sustained winds of 157-194 mph and peak gusts of 199-264 mph. A Category 5 typhoon has the ability to be life-threatening to those that do not prepare in advance.
Typhoon conditions A typhoon watch is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan and adjacent coastal waters in the Marianas, meaning typhoon conditions, including destructive winds of 74 mph or more, are possible within 48 hours, by Mondayevening. Winds will be between 69 and 104 mph close to the center of Mangkhut as it intensifies and reaches the Marianas waters. Winds are forecast to begin to rise Monday afternoon, reach maximum Tuesday morning, and start to subside Tuesday evening. Further from the center will be tropical storm force winds. Combined seas in excess of 30 feet are possible due to the expected high winds near the center. Farther from the center, combined seas will be between 10 and 20 feet elsewhere in the Marianas waters.
Sunday morning on Guam, plenty of preparation for the typhoon was underway.
Use today to prepare and stay up to date. The Joint Information Center will provide important information throughout the day, before the damaging winds arrive. Be on the lookout for the most up to date information, paying close attention to the date and time on posts or press releases.