Sinlaku upgraded to typhoon; Storm conditions predicted to linger up to 60 hours

 By Pacific Island Times News Staff

 (Updated at 7:03 p.m.)

Sinlaku has been upgraded to a typhoon as of this afternoon. A typhoon watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan, meaning typhoon conditions, including winds of 74 mph or more, are possible within 48 hours, according to the latest update from the Joint Information Center.

Earlier today, the National Weather Service tracked the slow-moving Typhoon Sinlaku, which was still hovering over Chuuk, carrying winds of 70 mph as of 7 a.m.

Despite its slow motion, Sinlaku is projected to develop into a Category 3 or Category 4 typhoon, likely packed with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, said Brandon Aydlet, a meteorologist at NWS.

“That's going to be significant—130 miles per hour is significant,” Aydlet said in a virtual briefing at noon today. “That is what we experienced as Typhoon Mawar rounded the northern tip of Mawar, 130 miles per hour, category four. That is the potential we face as we go into Tuesday.

At 5 p.m., Typhoon Sinlaku was located 8.8N and 151.6E, about 95 miles north of Chuuk, 565 miles southeast of Guam.

The Joint Information Center said Sinlaku was moving north-northeast at 5 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph. It is expected to make a turn toward the northwest with a slight increase in forward speed through Sunday as it heads toward the Marianas, possibly crossing Guam as a Category 3 or Category 4 typhoon, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph or more. 

Winds: expected to increase with conditions deteriorating sometime late Sunday with potential for Tropical Storm-Force winds of 39 mph around Monday morning, and potential for Typhoon-Force winds of 74 mph or more Monday evening into Tuesday morning. 

Rain: expected to produce 15 to 20 inches of rainfall between Sunday night and Wednesday for Guam. As showers are likely to persist, consistent rainfall is likely to produce flash floods and saturate the soils enough to increase the chance for mudslides over central to southern Guam.

While Guam and Rota are advised to brace for typhoon conditions, Tinian and Saipan are facing tropical storm conditions with an outside chance of typhoon conditions if Sinlaku shifts a little bit farther north, Aydlet said.

“Monday morning for the onset of damaging tropical storm conditions for Guam, and then just a little bit later through the day for Rota and Saipan. We're still looking at a long-duration event, potentially 48 to 60 hours of tropical storm conditions or worse,” he added.

As it did in the previous days, Sinlaku continues its nearly stationary motion.

“Today could be nearly stationary for most of the day. We should start seeing a little bit of a northwest motion as we head into Sunday morning,” Aydlet said.

“That's going to start really fine-tuning just where Sinlaku will pass through the Marianas. A 20-mile shift north and south is going to have significant impacts and changes.”

Aydlet advised residents to be prepared for the "emotional impact" of dealing with damaging and destructive conditions, such as utility outages.

"When we have no power, it's going to be a little unnerving at night when you hear all that noise. Now, about all that, there are still those uncertainties that remain," Aydlet said.

"It's going to make for a very long-duration event. We could be looking at a 400-mile-wide tropical cyclone passing through the Marianas. At that speed of motion, six or seven miles per hour, it's going to be a long time. Monday, Monday night, Tuesday, Tuesday night, Wednesday," he added.

Service members fill sandbags to secure infrastructure ahead of the storm. Photo coyrtesy of JRM

The Joint Region Marianas established Tropical Cyclone Condition of Readiness 3 at 10 p.m. today for all military installations in anticipation of destructive winds.

The announcement of TCCOR 3 indicates sustained winds greater than 50 knots (57 mph) are possible within 48 hours. As the storm continues to progress, JRM will announce TCCOR 2 when sustained winds greater than 50 knots are anticipated within 24 hours, followed by TCCOR 1, which is when those winds are occurring or anticipated within 12 hours.

Service members across JRM are actively preparing installations, including filling sandbags and securing infrastructure ahead of the storm.

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“Recent efforts at our installations reflect the level of preparation required for this storm,” said U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, JRM commander. “Our teams are taking proactive steps now to reduce risk, protect infrastructure, and ensure readiness as conditions are expected to deteriorate.”

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Josh Lasky, commander of the Joint Task Force Micronesia, said his team is prepared to respond rapidly should assistance be requested by the appropriate authority, Defense Support of Civil Authorities.

“Our forces are postured, trained, and aligned to integrate seamlessly with local and federal partners, ensuring timely support should we be called upon,” said Lasky.

Service members and their families are advised to continue taking precautionary measures, including ensuring households have sufficient food, water and necessary medication for seven to 10 days.

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