Super Typhoon Bavi

Typhoon Bavi rapidly intensified into a Category 5 super typhoon in the western Pacific in early July 2026, becoming the third Category 5 storm of the year. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center clocked sustained winds of 160-167 mph (260-269 km/h) with gusts to 201 mph as of July 4-5, with the National Weather Service in Guam warning of possible sustained winds up to 175 mph and gusts to 210 mph. Guam was placed under a Typhoon Watch and moved to Condition of Readiness 2 at 10 p.m. ChST on July 4, with Condition of Readiness 3 having been declared the prior afternoon. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero declared a state of emergency for Guam, and CNMI officials issued a parallel declaration for the Northern Mariana Islands. Emergency shelters opened across Guam beginning 7 a.m. on July 5, with residents instructed to bring seven days of food and water, medicine, bedding, and hygiene supplies (pets not permitted). The forecast track then shifted the eye of the storm to pass very close to Rota between Guam and Saipan on Monday, July 6, with Tinian and Saipan also expected to feel Category 5 conditions. Forecasters warned of catastrophic wind damage to poorly constructed homes, widespread power outages, flash flooding, and seas up to 45 feet offshore.

Bavi struck Rota at peak Category 5 intensity on July 6, its centre passing about 2 miles off the island's northern coast. Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog said about half of the island's structures were damaged or destroyed, and Rota's airport and seaport were damaged. On Saipan and Tinian, all 16,683 electrical customers lost power and 439 people went to shelters. No deaths were reported in the Marianas. A major disaster declaration (DR-4931-MP) approved on August 3 made FEMA Individual Assistance available on Rota and Public Assistance available on Rota, Saipan and Tinian, with direct federal assistance for Rota covered at 100% of eligible costs for 90 days. World Central Kitchen served meals to residents on Tinian, Saipan and Rota.

After leaving the Marianas, Bavi enhanced the southwest monsoon over the Philippines, where the rain killed at least 23 people (the Daily Tribune reported 26 as of July 15) and affected about 783,000. Bavi then made landfall near Yuhuan in Zhejiang, China, on July 11, and about 1.72 million people were evacuated in the province.