The eyewall of Super Typhoon Bavi was moving over Rota just after 6 a.m. Monday, and winds between 160 mph and 180 were imminent, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters said passage of the eye would take about two hours, and intense winds would resume in the opposite direction.
At 5 a.m., Super Typhoon Bavi was located at 14.0 north latitude and 145.9 east longitude, about 45 miles east-southeast of Rota, 70 miles south-southeast of Tinian, 80 miles south of Saipan and 85 miles east-northeast of Guam.
The dangerous Category 5 storm was moving west-northwest at 12 mph.
Winds were 180 mph, with gusts of 215 mph. Wind speed was forecast to remain at this intensity through Tuesday.
Typhoon force winds extend outward from the center up to 60 miles. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward from the center up to 230 miles to the north and 185 miles to the south.
Emergency managers urged residents of all islands to remain indoors.
