As of April 13, 2026 local time, Super Typhoon Sinlaku is moving northwest toward the Marianas. The storm is east-southeast of Guam with maximum sustained winds of roughly 175 to 180 mph, making it equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Current forecasts show the strongest wind threat near or over Tinian and Saipan, while Guam remains at risk for tropical-storm-force winds, flooding, and possible coastal inundation.

Figure: Super Typhoon Sinlaku storm forecast

Data source: polarwx.com, Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC)

A typhoon affecting Guam or the Marianas in April is unusual compared with the normal peak season of August through November. The most similar recent example is Super Typhoon Andy, which passed 115 miles south-southeast of Agana in April 1989 with 135-knot maximum winds.

Guam could experience tropical-storm-force winds of about 40 to 50 mph with gusts to 65 mph, 6 to 12 inches of rain, and 1 to 3 feet of possible coastal inundation. The most destructive conditions are forecast farther north: Tinian and Saipan could face winds of 130 to 150 mph with gusts to 180 mph, along with much heavier rainfall near the storm’s center.

Because Guam is highly exposed to typhoons, its building regime emphasizes strong wind resistance. Reinforced concrete construction with well-designed storm protection is common and generally performs better than lightweight or deteriorated structures. That said, major typhoons in Guam can still cause serious damage. The island often sees widespread power and water outages, flooding, roof and window failures, debris impacts, and damage to some homes and critical infrastructure.

A Flood Watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Guam is under a Tropical Storm Warning and Typhoon Watch, while Rota, Tinian, and Saipan remain under a Typhoon Warning. Residents should continue monitoring official updates and be prepared for flash flooding, and possible outages.

Cotality will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates when available.

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