Super Typhoon Mawar struck Guam as a powerful Category 4 storm Wednesday, hitting the island with destructive and powerful winds, heavy rain and a dangerous storm surge that swamped low areas.
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Residents of the U.S. territory hunkered down in homes and shelters.
The typhoon's center passed over the northern tip of Guam on Wednesday evening, the National Weather Service said. It is the strongest storm to hit the territory of over 150,000 people in decades.
Meteorologists suspect the storm clipped the far northern part of the island, but otherwise it was in the channel between Guam and its neighbor to the north, Rota, warning coordination meteorologist Landon Aydlett said by telephone.
Peak winds at the weather service office in Guam reached 105 mph, but it later lost its wind sensors, he said. The building was vibrating, with a "constant, low rumbling," and doors and windows were shaking, he said.
"We have the peak conditions going on for a couple more hours. I think thrashing is the word I would use," Aydlett said. "There are trees everywhere at this point. Daylight tomorrow is really going to be a shock to a lot of people."
Lightning had become an increasing threat as conditions continued to deteriorate into the evening, the weather service reported. And an extreme wind warning and flash flood warning were in effect for northern Guam.
"An extreme wind warning is in effect for Dededo GU, Yigo GU, Tamuning GU until 10:45 PM ChST for extremely dangerous hurricane winds," wrote NWS Guam in a tweet. "Treat these imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!."
The weather service issued flash flood warnings for the same three areas around the same time. Those are set to expire about three hours before the warnings for extreme wind. In a bulletin, the weather service urged people to stay inside and away from windows to protect themselves from flying debris.
An extreme wind warning is in effect for Dededo GU, Yigo GU, Tamuning GU until 10:45 PM ChST for extremely dangerous hurricane winds. ■