Mawar now a super typhoon

Typhoon Mawar has progressed quickly in the last 24 hours and is now expected to pass near Guam as a super typhoon, with damaging maximum sustained winds of 155 miles-per-hour and crawling along at just 8 mph.

According to the National Weather Service in Guam, Mawar progressed into a Category 4 typhoon yesterday and continues to intensify as it passes through the region.

Typhoon warning remains in effect for Guam and Rota. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more are expected late yesterday evening, with the onset of typhoon force winds forecast for this morning.

Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more were expected last night into this morning.

Typhoon Watch remains in effect for Saipan and Tinian. Typhoon force winds are possible if the westward turn of Mawar is delayed.

Forecasts from the National Weather Service state that Mawar, which was about a Category 2 typhoon last Monday afternoon, quickly evolved into a Category 4 typhoon early yesterday morning and continues to intensify.

Based on the Saffir-Simpson scale (the scale used by U.S. meteorological organizations to determine the intensity of typhoons and hurricanes), a Category 4 typhoon brings maximum sustained winds of 130 mph to 156 mph.

The Saffir-Simpson scale states that under this category, catastrophic damage will occur as well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed.

As a comparison, Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018 was a Category 5 typhoon with maximum sustained winds of over 157 mph.

As of 8pm last night, Super Typhoon Mawar was intensifying and continues to move north at 8 mph. It is expected to make a turn toward the northwest with little change in forward speed over the next 24 hours.

Super Typhoon Mawar is anticipated to strengthen and bring strong winds and rainfall to the Marianas in the next 12 hours.

Due to its progress, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios upgraded the declaration for Rota to Typhoon Condition I and declared Tropical Storm Condition I for the islands of Saipan, and Tinian.

Government offices closed

Effective 12:30pm yesterday, all government offices on Saipan and Tinian were closed and will remain closed until an “all clear” declaration is announced.

Rota offices have been closed since last Monday.