Super Typhoon Yutu

Post Reply New Topic

Super Typhoon Yutu is striking parts of the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, potentially the strongest super typhoon of record to pass near the islands of Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

The center of Yutu is now less than 100 miles southeast of the islands of Saipan and Tinian, in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands which are located about 120 miles north-northeast of Guam.

Maximum sustained winds are now solidly Category 5 intensity, 165 mph, as of the latest advisory from the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

The intense eyewall of Yutu is now clearly visible from the National Weather Service Doppler radar and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. There have been numerous lightning strikes within Yutu's eyewall, indicative of an intensifying tropical cyclone.

Winds have already gusted over 70 mph Wednesday on Saipan in advance of Yutu, and some gusts from 30 to 50 mph have been measured on Guam, along with bands of rain.

Saipan and Tinian are in the greatest danger of a strike from Yutu's eyewall, containing the most intense, destructive winds late Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, local time. Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands are 14 hours ahead of U.S. EDT.

Yutu is forecast to move through the archipelago late Wednesday and into early Thursday, when typhoon-force winds (74-plus mph) are expected on Rota, Saipan and Tinian. Winds of this magnitude are capable of knocking down trees and power lines and could also cause some structural damage. The damage would be greatest if the eyewall passes over any land areas.

In general, here is the damage one can expect in Category 5 winds, according to the National Hurricane Center:

High percentage of framed homes destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse.
Fallen trees and power poles will isolated residential areas.
Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months.
Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
Typhoon conditions are expected to continue in Saipan, Tinian and Rota through late Thursday morning, local time.

NWS-Guam is forecasting the following peak storm surge inundation with Yutu:

Saipan and Tinian: Up to 15 to 20 feet on windward sides as Yutu approaches; after the storm passes west of the island, 5 to 7 feet along west-facing shorelines
Rota: Up to 2 to 4 feet on windward sides as Yutu approaches
Guam: Up to 2 to 4 feet on windward sides
The NWS is forecasting seas to increase to 30 to 40 feet near the center of Yutu Wednesday night, with life-threatening rip currents expected from this surf. High surf and rip currents will be felt throughout the Marianas through at least Thursday as Yutu passes through.

Here are the expected rainfall totals from Yutu through Thursday, again, according to NWS-Guam:

Saipan and Tinian: 10 to 15 inches
Rota: 6 to 8 inches
Guam: 4 to 6 inches
This rainfall is likely to trigger dangerous flash flooding and dangerous landslides in higher terrain. A flash flood watch has been issued in the islands through late Thursday night.

Next week, Yutu could eventually pose a threat to the northern Philippines, Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan.

Yutu rapidly intensified from a Category 1 to Category 5 super typhoon in 24 hours ending at 4 p.m. Wednesday, local time.

A strengthening Super Typhoon Yutu, with sustained winds of 180 mph, is on a trek through the Northern Mariana Islands.

The storm is roaring across the islands of Saipan and Tinian, both U.S. territories, and will become among the most intense, if not the strongest, storm on record to impact U.S. soil.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center now considers Yutu an incredibly strong Category 5-equivalent typhoon. Since reconnaissance planes do not fly in the western Pacific to directly measure conditions inside storms, the intensity of 180 mph, or 155 knots, is based on estimates from satellites.

Meteorologist Ryan Maue of WeatherModels.com tweeted that the storm would be a “Category 6 if Atlantic scale was extrapolated.”

According to Phil Klotzbach of the Capital Weather Gang, Yutu is “tied with Mangkhut for the strongest storm of the 2018 season to date.” If it strengthens, Yutu will rank among the most intense storms ever recorded.

“This is an historically significant event,” tweeted Michael Lowry, a hurricane specialist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

While the western Pacific is where the world’s most powerful tropical cyclones tend to form, Yutu’s strength is likely to be unprecedented in modern history for the Northern Mariana Islands. The islands are home to slightly more than 50,000 people, a majority of whom live on the largest, northernmost island of Saipan.

The damage assessment has not yet begun, and probably won’t begin until Friday morning she said.

However, De Leon Guerrero acknowledged that initial reports indicate that the damage is widespread and severe.

The CNMI was still in Condition of Readiness 1 at midday and De Leon Guerrero said she does not expect the islands to return to the normal Condition of Readiness 4, until 5 PM Thursday afternoon.

De Leon Guerrero said the first priority is clearing the roadways from all the debris and getting the airport open.

“The islands don’t have power, and don’t have water,” she said.

The greatest need now is for bottled water, non-perishable foods, fans, cleaning supplies, anything battery operated “because we don’t expect to have power for a very long time,” said De Leon Guerrero.