Hurricane (Typhoon) — Rota, Guam

2018-10-24 to 2018-10-25 · Rota, Guam

Event narrative

A tropical disturbance was noted just northwest of Kosrae on the morning of October 21 near 8N160E. By the morning of October 22 the system had become Tropical depression 31W and was 130 miles north-northwest of Pohnpei. 31W continued to intensify through the day and by the afternoon of the 22nd became Tropical Storm Yutu. Yutu continued to strengthen and became a typhoon on the afternoon of October

23rd.

Yutu continued to intensify and on the afternoon of the 24th it became a Super Typhoon. A Super Typhoon is a Joint Typhoon Warning Center's designation placed on a system in the Western North Pacific if wind speeds in the typhoon equal or exceed 150 mph. At that time Yutu was less than 200 miles to the east of the Marianas.

The 20 mile wide eye of Super Typhoon Yutu crossed over Tinian between midnight and 4 a.m. on October 25th. Typhoon force winds caused damage across Rota.

Wider weather episode

Super Typhoon Yutu passed through the Marianas October 24th to 25th. Yutu was classified as the second most powerful storm to hit the U.S.A.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 816109. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.