Guam Races to Evacuate Ahead of Super Typhoon Bavi



Rain falls in Saipan as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches
Rain falls in Saipan ahead of Bavi’s arrival.


Emergency evacuations are underway in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as super typhoon Bavi is expected to make landfall early Monday.


The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the storm, with winds reaching 257 km/h (160 mph), could bring catastrophic damage, severe flooding from torrential rains and ocean waves up to 11 m (35 ft).


Bavi is the 11th category‑four or five tropical cyclone to hit U.S. territory in the past decade, a spike that scientists say is linked to a strong El Niño event and rising sea temperatures.


Guam – home to about 170,000 people – has opened five evacuation centres located in schools that can accommodate roughly 1,700 residents. One centre already reached capacity and evacuees were redirected to another.


Local officials stressed the urgency: “The window is closing fast. Those leaving your home should do so if directed by officials or if your property is at risk from high winds or flooding.”


Businesses are bracing for impact: a 55‑year‑old owner in Guam spent about $500 (£373) on plywood to board up her restaurant, hoping to protect her livelihood from the storm’s force.


Tourists are also staying put. A 25‑year‑old Japanese visitor, whose flight back to Tokyo was cancelled, said she feared the storm and would remain at her hotel until it passed.


The NWS estimates that destructive conditions could be felt eight to 10 hours from the storm’s centre, as Bavi’s direct path will cross Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands in the early afternoon.


The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) rates Bavi as a super typhoon with winds exceeding 150 knots (173 mph), and potential gusts up to 180 knots (207 mph). The storm’s intensity is comparable to a Category IV or V hurricane in the Atlantic.


Preparedness steps are underway: emergency crews are readying shelters, local authorities are issuing weather alerts, and residents are advised to secure property and heed evacuation orders.



Satellite image of Super Typhoon Bavi over the Pacific
Bavi headed toward the U.S. Pacific territories for landfall early Monday.


As weather officials monitor the storm’s trajectory, residents in Guam, Saipan and the Northern Mariana Islands are urged to prepare for extreme wind, flooding and potential damage.