Typhoon Champi Nears Guam: Typhoon Warning in Effect, Island at Highest Readiness, Ports Closed
Typhoon Champi intensified over the western Pacific on Saturday morning, October 17, as it closed in on the Mariana Islands, home to the U.S. territory of Guam. According to National Weather Service Guam forecast information, Champi had maximum sustained winds of about 85 mph on Saturday morning, was located about 335 miles southeast of Saipan, and was moving west-northwest at about 15 mph, with further strengthening forecast through Monday.
A typhoon warning is in effect for Guam and Rota, while Tinian and Saipan are under a tropical storm warning and a typhoon watch. A coastal flood warning and high surf warning are also in effect, with breaking waves of 20 to 25 feet expected on Rota and 15 to 20 feet on Tinian and Saipan. NWS Guam warns rainfall could total 6 to 12 inches (152-305 mm), accompanied by dangerous surf, coastal inundation and potentially destructive winds, with tropical storm-force winds arriving Saturday night.
Guam's governor placed the island in Condition of Readiness 1 (COR 1), the highest readiness level in the Marianas system; Rota is in COR 2 and Saipan and Tinian in COR 3. The U.S. Coast Guard closed the ports of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on Saturday morning under Port Heavy Weather Condition Zulu.
Forecasters expect Champi's center to pass just south of or over southern Guam around sunrise on Sunday, with peak winds of 105 to 120 mph and gusts to 155 mph possible over Guam.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 资料图：关岛杜梦湾。Luke Ma 摄，CC BY 2.0，Wikimedia Commons。
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