The Mariana Islands, including the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, are bracing for extreme weather as Super Typhoon Sinlaku approaches. The storm, which originated as a cluster of thunderstorms over Micronesia, rapidly intensified over the weekend, with sustained winds reaching 150mph on Sunday. Forecasters predict further strengthening, with winds potentially reaching 165mph as it moves through the western Pacific early this week.
A slight northward shift in the storm's track makes a direct hit on Guam unlikely, but Saipan and Tinian are expected to bear the brunt of the severe conditions. The National Weather Service in Guam has issued warnings for destructive winds, rainfall exceeding 300mm between Monday and Thursday, hazardous seas, and storm surges. Flash flooding, mudslides, and wind damage are anticipated.
The Joint Typhoon Warning Center classifies Sinlaku as a super typhoon, equivalent to a category 4 hurricane in the North Atlantic, with potential to reach category 5. Typhoons of this intensity are unusual in April, as the peak season typically runs from June to November.
Meanwhile, in the South Pacific, Tropical Cyclone Vaianu formed on 5 April and passed close to Fiji without making landfall. It was reclassified as an extratropical cyclone due to structural changes, though winds remained at 65mph. The storm brought red warnings for strong winds to New Zealand over the weekend, with gusts peaking at 80mph, causing widespread power outages and evacuations. A buoy off the north coast recorded an 11-metre wave.
