Super Typhoon Sinlaku nears Northern Mariana Islands and Guam

Super Typhoon Sinlaku, a Category 5-equivalent tropicaly cyclone, is nearing the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, where typhoon and tropical storm warnings are in effect and shelters have been opened. Damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous seas are expected across the U.S. Pacific territories.

As of 5 a.m. local time on Monday (3 p.m. Sunday ET), Sinlaku was moving north-northwest toward the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the western Pacific, at 10 mph, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Guam.

The latest forecast track showed the storm moving near Saipan and Tinian, two of the territory’s main populated islands, with damaging winds expected to begin this evening or tonight.

A typhoon warning is in effect for Rota, Saipan and Tinian in the Northern Mariana Islands, while Guam, the U.S. territory just to the south, is under a tropical storm warning.

Forecasts for Saipan and Tinian call for typhoon conditions on Tuesday and Tuesday night, with winds increasing to 80 to 120 mph during the day before strengthening further to 130 to 160 mph at night. The storm is also expected to bring heavy to torrential rain and dangerous surf.

Waves were expected to reach 15 to 25 feet near Guam, 20 to 30 feet near Rota, and as high as 30 to 40 feet near Saipan and Tinian through Wednesday.

Officials said shelters have been opened both in the Northern Marianas and on Guam as the islands rush to complete preparations.