Super Typhoon Bavi slams US Pacific Islands with Category 5 force

One of the strongest super typhoons of the year struck the US Pacific Islands on July 6, bringing destructive winds, torrential rain, and life-threatening storm surges to the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, CNN reports.

The center of Super Typhoon Bavi, equivalent in strength to a Category 5 hurricane, passed directly over the island of Rota, home to around 2,000 residents, according to the US National Weather Service (NWS).

The storm packed maximum sustained winds exceeding 180 mph, with winds of more than 150 mph expected on Rota.

The National Weather Service warned that the powerful winds were capable of causing catastrophic structural damage, toppling trees and power lines, and triggering prolonged power outages.

Forecasters also warned of torrential tropical rainfall, which could produce significant flash flooding as repeated bands of heavy rain continued even after the storm's eyewall passed. In addition, life-threatening coastal flooding was expected as powerful onshore winds drove storm surges onto shorelines, while massive waves and dangerous surf created hazardous marine conditions.

Rota is located about 50 miles north of Guam, home to some of the United States' most strategically important military facilities in the Pacific, including Andersen Air Force Base and US Naval Base Guam.

Andersen Air Force Base regularly hosts rotations of B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers, while the naval base serves as the homeport for five US Navy attack submarines. More than 7,000 active-duty military personnel are stationed on Guam, which has a population of over 150,000.

The US military on Guam announced early July 6 that it had reached its highest level of storm readiness and was preparing for damaging winds. The weather service warned that Guam could experience hurricane-force winds and heavy rainfall.

Approximately 75 miles north of Rota, residents of Saipan and Tinian also prepared for the storm. Both islands were forecast to experience Category 1 hurricane-force winds exceeding 74 mph.

The latest storm comes just months after Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the Northern Mariana Islands in April as a Category 4 system with sustained winds of around 150 mph and gusts reaching 185 mph.

Sinlaku dumped more than 20 inches of rain, causing widespread flooding, prolonged power outages, and extensive damage to homes and infrastructure across Saipan and Tinian. Its slow movement prolonged the storm's destructive impact, unlike the faster-moving Bavi.

Forecasters expect Bavi to move westward at 10 to 13 mph, exiting the Mariana Islands by July 6 afternoon.

Tinian also holds historic military significance. During World War II, B-29 bombers that carried out the atomic bombings of Japan departed from North Field on the island. Once the busiest airport in the world, North Field is currently undergoing renovation as the United States seeks to expand and disperse its military infrastructure across the Pacific region.

By Vafa Guliyeva