Powerful Typhoon Mawar has made its closest approach to the U.S. island territory of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean, with winds of 140 mph that have knocked out power and communications across the island.
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As of Wednesday evening, local time, Typhoon Mawar had maximum sustained winds of 140 mph, equivalent to a strong Category 4 hurricane, and was moving to the northwest at 8 mph. Guam is 14 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern daylight time.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Guam said the southern eyewall of Typhoon Mawar was pivoting over northern portions of Guam, bringing typhoon-force winds and torrential rain.
“Considerable wind damage to buildings of light material is occulting along with localized flash flooding and the possibility of landslides,” the NWS warned in its forecast.
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While Typhoon Mawar is making its closest approach to Guam, the NWS said the storm is expected to make a slight turn to the west-northwest with a slight increase in forward speed over the next 24 hours.
Typhoon Mawar is now moving away from Guam and is expected to regain strength as it spins back out over the open waters of the Western Pacific Ocean.
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Typhoon Mawar’s intense southern eyewall winds have pivoted across the northern area of Guam, according to the NWS.
Sustained winds of 140 mph, especially in the southern eyewall, may persist over Guam throughout the evening.
The NWS in Guam said Typhoon Mawar’s winds have brought down wind sensors and its Doppler radar, and a wind gust of 105 mph was reported at Guam International Airport.