Tropical Storm Champi is rapidly strengthening as it approaches the Mariana Islands with forecasters warning it could become a powerful Category 3 typhoon before passing just south of Guam on Sunday morning.
The US National Weather Service said Champi could bring destructive winds, torrential rainfall and dangerous coastal flooding across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, with damaging winds expected to arrive around midnight Saturday.
As of early Saturday, Champi had maximum sustained winds of 112km/h and was moving west at 24kph slowing from 38kph on Friday.
Forecasters expect the storm to intensify into a category 3 typhoon, with sustained winds of 177-to-209km/h before reaching the Marianas.
Guam and Rota remain under Typhoon Warnings, while Tropical Storm Warnings and Typhoon Watches remain in effect for Saipan and Tinian.
Flood Watches, Coastal Flood Watches, and High Surf Warnings are also in effect across the islands.
Guam is expected to bear the brunt of Champi, with peak winds of 168-to-193km/h and gusts reaching 249km/h Sunday morning.
The island could receive 12 to 20 inches of rainfall, with surf reaching 35 feet and coastal inundation of five to seven feet.
Governor Lourdes Leon Guerrero placed Guam under Condition of Readiness 2 at 1pm Friday, urging residents to secure their homes and prepare emergency supplies.
“Protecting the lives and safety of our people remains our highest priority,” Leon Guerrero said.
She also warned residents to stay out of the ocean as dangerous conditions develop.
Meanwhile, Northern Marianas Governor David Apatang signed Executive Order 2026-023 on Friday, declaring a Significant Emergency across the Commonwealth to mobilise resources and coordinate emergency preparations.
Apatang also raised Rota to Typhoon Condition II while maintaining Typhoon Condition III for Saipan and Tinian.
Forecasters
Rota is forecast to experience winds of 96-to-128km/h, with gusts reaching 185km/h, rainfall of 10 to 15 inches and surf up to 25 feet.
Coastal inundation of two to four feet is also possible.
Saipan and Tinian could experience winds of 64-to-96km/h, with gusts reaching 128km/h, rainfall of four to six inches and surf reaching 20 feet.
Forecasters warned that any northward shift in Champi’s track could bring significantly stronger conditions to Rota, Tinian, and Saipan.
National Weather Service meteorologist Landon Aydlett said the storm continues to intensify, with the Joint Typhoon Warning Center indicating that rapid strengthening was imminent.
He said weather conditions would begin deteriorating Saturday as showers move across Guam and Rota.
“The window of opportunity for preparatory actions is shrinking and will get sloppy and gusty later this morning and afternoon as showers roll in,” Aydlett said.
He noted that a further southward shift in Champi’s track could offer some relief to parts of the Marianas, but cautioned residents against becoming complacent.
Shelters
Authorities are urging residents across the region to complete storm preparations by sunset Saturday.
In the Northern Marianas, emergency shelters on Saipan, Tinian and Rota were scheduled to open at 8am Saturday.
Residents still occupying temporary FEMA and STRONG tents following previous typhoons have been advised to seek stronger shelter.
The approaching storm comes as the Northern Marianas continues recovering from Super Typhoon Sinlaku in April and Super Typhoon Bavi in July.
Champi’s passage threatens to compound damage to homes, public infrastructure and utilities already affected by previous storms.
The National Weather Service warned residents that conditions could deteriorate rapidly as Champi approaches, with its closest passage to Guam expected Sunday morning.
