Typhoon Hagibis is now a super typhoon, the National Weather Station stated in its latest update.
According to NWS, at 4 p.m. Hagibis was centered 165 miles east of Saipan near 15.5N 148.2E moving west-northwest at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds now at 150 mph with gusts up to 185 mph.
Super typhoon Hagubis is expected to pass through the Marianas tonight.
As of 1 o’clock this afternoon, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero placed Guam in Condition of Readiness Level 3, which means that damaging winds of 39 to 57 miles per hour from Typhoon Hagibis are expected to affect Guam within 48 hours.
In addition, a tropical storm warning is in effect for Guam, which means that sustained winds of 40 miles per hour to 72 are expected within 24 hours.
According to an update from the National Weather Service, the system’s center was about 200 miles east of Saipan as of 2:34 p.m. today and is continuing its west to west-northwest course towards the Marianas at a pace of 16 miles per hour.
According to NWS meteorologist Chip Guard, the super typhoon was intensifying faster than expected and could possibly become a Category 4 or 5 typhoon.
Super typhoon Hagibis is expected to pass near Anatahan tonight with its closest approach to the island at around midnight tonight to early Tuesday morning at about 190 miles away from Guam.
Weather conditions are expected to worsen during this period as winds of up to 40 to 50 miles per hour will batter the northern half of Guam and 30 to 40 miles per hour winds to affect its southern half.
Hazardous seas are also expected, with waters increasing tonight and Tuesday to waters reaching up to 15 feet.
According to a release from the Joint Information Center, the Department of Public Works is working with the Mayors Council of Guam to mitigate flooding in vulnerable areas around the island.
In addition, the Guam Department of Education has identified schools in the north, central, and south that will be used as emergency shelters.
These shelters are currently inactive and will be active once the island enters Condition of Readiness Level 2.
More information about shelter locations and their availability will be provided later today.
To stay up to date about the typhoon, visit NWS’s Facebook Page at NWSGUAM or ghs.guam.gov.
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