Typhoon Sinlaku’s maximum sustained winds on Guam were well below the 74 mph threshold for typhoons, but some residents said the storm’s slow movement made it feel worse than Typhoon Mawar in 2023.
Guam was placed in Condition of Readiness 1 at 4 p.m. Monday, and the island stayed in COR 1 until noon Thursday.
The highest winds anywhere on Guam were 55 mph, well below the sustained winds of 74 mph required for a Category 1 typhoon, according to
National Weather Service Lead Meteorologist Ken Kleeschulte.
The storm’s top gusts on Guam were 80 mph.
Mangilao resident Felix Franquez said the storm’s slow pace made conditions feel more severe.
“This one was a little bit worse than Typhoon Mawar. It was slow speed. My brothers and sisters from Saipan, they’re hurting right now,” Franquez said.
Kleeschulte said the storm’s duration played a significant role in how it was experienced on the island.
Sinlaku moved slowly through the region, traveling between 3 to 6 mph near Guam. At its strongest, near Saipan and Tinian, the storm’s eye measured about 60 miles wide and moved only about 25 miles over a 14-hour period.
Earlier in its track, Sinlaku moved as slowly as 1 to 3 mph over Chuuk.
Officials say the storm’s slowness contributed to hazardous marine conditions, including high seas and coastal inundation. The storm deposited debris on roadways and shorelines, toppled trees, and disrupted power, water, and cell phone service across the island.
Rainfall totals were lower than initially expected. Guam received between 10 to 12 inches of rain. That was significantly less than the islandwide averages recorded during Typhoon Mawar, which reached about 24 inches.
Inalåhan resident Lawrence Flores said the island was ready for Sinlaku, but he was surprised by the aftermath.
“I feel like Guam is prepared for this storm compared to the last one, Mawar,” he says. “I didn’t expect for this kind of typhoon to be that strong.”
Sinlaku still remains a typhoon as it moves north through the Northern Mariana Islands, with maximum sustained winds of about 95 mph. The storm was tracking northeast at about 7 mph Friday afternoon, impacting the Northern Islands of Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan.
