Super Typhoon “Yutu” approaching the Marianas, very strong winds and heavy rain expected

Tropical Cyclone "Yutu" formed October 21, 2018 in the Northwest Pacific Ocean as 26^th named storm of the 2018 Pacific typhoon season. The storm will move over the Mariana Islands sometime after noon UTC, October 24 as a Super Typhoon (260 km/h, 160 mph).

The National Weather Service in Guam has posted a typhoon warning for Rota, Tinian and Saipan and a tropical storm warning for Guam, and the far northern islands of Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan.

At 18:00 UTC on October 23, the center of Typhoon "Yutu" was located about 530 km (329 miles) east-southeast of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands. Its maximum 10-minute sustained winds were 155 km/h (100 mph), 1-minute sustained winds were at 165 km/h (105 mph), with gusts to 220 km/h (140 mph).

The minimum central barometric pressure was 950 hPa and the system was moving northwestward at 20 km/h (10 mph).

Featured image: Typhoon "Yutu" at 19:10 UTC, October 23, 2018. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

Featured image: Typhoon "Yutu" at 19:10 UTC, October 23, 2018. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

Featured image: Typhoon "Yutu" at 19:10 UTC, October 23, 2018. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA

At 00:00 UTC, October 24, Yutu had maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h (150 mph), making it a Super Typhoon.

On the forecast track, the center of Yutu will move over the Mariana Islands after 12:00 UTC, October 24. Maximum sustained winds at the time should be around 260 km/h, (160 mph). This would make it a Category 5 hurricane equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Strengthening is expected to continue over the next 72 hours and the typhoon is forecast to peak around 00:00 UTC, October 27 with maximum sustained winds near 290 km/h (180 mph).

Read more:

Extensive damage to Saipan, Tinian and Rota after deadly Super Typhoon "Yutu" makes landfall

Featured image: Typhoon "Yutu" at 17:20 UTC, October 23, 2018. Credit: JMA/Himawari-8, RAMMB/CIRA