The U.S. Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are currently experiencing the most powerful tropical cyclone of 2026 to date, as Super Typhoon Sinlaku continued to grow Tuesday, according to The Weather Channel,
Sinlaku attained peak intensity with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 890 millibars, closely matching Hurricane Melissa’s peak in Jamaica last October, which recorded 190 mph winds and 892 millibars.
An expert at Yale indicated that the storm ties with Super Typhoon Hester from 1953 as the second strongest typhoon recorded from January through April, surpassed only by Super Typhoon Surigae in mid-April 2021.
Typhoons in this specific region can happen any time of the year, but most typically occur between July and November.
Landfall and immediate impact
The eye of the storm touched down on the islands of Saipan and Tinian, which are seeing “high winds and torrential rain” as a result, according to The Weather Channel.
Before making landfall, the storm stalled about 30 miles offshore for several hours, fueling fears of catastrophic damage, CBS reported.
Such intense winds prompted an “extreme wind warning” from the National Weather Service.
One area in Saipan clocked a 130-mph wind gust.
Saipan’s mayor told The Associated Press that rescue/response efforts have been hard to coordinate because “objects are just flying left and right.”
Here’s a video compilation of the conditions in Saipan.
Damage and forecast
Fallen trees have crushed wood-frame and tin-roofed homes, according to the mayor.
In Guam, downed power lines have been reported and roads are under a foot of water.
Flash flood warnings remain in effect as parts of the islands have seen up to 12 inches of rain.
The Weather Channel reports that storms will likely continue until Wednesday, with conditions gradually improving thereafter.
According to the National Weather Service, Saipan and Tinian could experience 15 to 25 inches of rain, which may lead to widespread flash flooding.
Sinlaku is then expected to move northeastward into the open Pacific.