Typhoon nears Rota

Typhoon Mangkhut is rapidly approaching Rota, according to a Facebook post of the National Weather Service a few minutes ago.

Heavy rain bands have already brought some flash flooding to areas of Guam and CNMI. Seas continue to build as winds increase across the region.

Conditions will continue to deteriorate on Rota and in Guam.

Stay sheltered in place.

Expect tropical storm force conditions to continue after the typhoon as strong winds and heavy rain will continue late into the evening and tonight.

Rota can expect a direct or near direct hit by a Category 2 typhoon, with winds of 100 mph or more, based on the latest advisory from the CNMI Emergency Operations Center-State Warning Point.

A typhoon warning remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan and adjacent coastal waters in the Mariana islands.

Typhoon conditions, including destructive winds of 74 mph (119 kilometers per hour) or more, are expected this afternoon at all locations.

Because of the typhoon threat, Gov. Rakph DLG Torres upgraded the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota to Typhoon Condition I early this morning.

Typhoon conditions, including destructive winds of 74 mph or more (119 kph or more), are expected on all three islands this afternoon through early tomorrow morning.

All government offices will remain shut down tomorrow, Sept. 11, 2018, and all residents are advised to stay indoors until an “all clear” is given.

All campuses of the Northern Marianas College on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota will remain closed tomorrow, Sept. 11, 2018. All classes scheduled for that day are canceled. As a reminder, all student activities and events (including Student Success series) scheduled for this week have been postponed until further notice.

The CNMI Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, through the CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point, will maintain 24-hour operations, monitor the movement of Typhoon Mangkhut and will be issuing bulletins as they become available.

Typhoon Mangkhut is steadily moving toward Rota as a Category 2 typhoon. A Category 2 has winds of 100 mph or more (160 kph or more). Preparations should now be completed.

At 1pm today, Typhoon Mangkhut was about 75 miles southeast of Saipan, about 80 miles east-southeast of Tinian, about 95 miles east-northeast of Rota, about 140 miles east-northeast of Guam, and about 235 miles south-southeast of Alamagan.

It is moving west at 18 mph. It is expected to maintain this general course with a slight decrease in forward speed over the next 24 hours. This will take Mangkut over or just north of Rota between 4pm and 6pm this afternoon.

Maximum sustained winds remain at 90 mph (144.84 kph).

Typhoon Mangkhut is forecast to intensify over the next few days. Winds are expected to increase to around 100 mph as it passes Rota.

Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 40 miles. Tropical storm force winds extend outward from the center up to 145 miles to the north and up to 100 miles to the south.

Keep a close watch on updates to weather forecasts and stay informed on the latest statements and advisories which will be available through local media sources and NOAA weather radio broadcast on 162.5 megahertz, or call EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or 664-8000, and for the Northern Islands to contact EOC State Warning Point at high frequency single side band radio on frequency 5.205.0. (PR)