Typhoon Champi passed just 10 miles south of Malesso’ early Sunday morning, sparing the island the full force of its 140 mph winds.
Landon Aydlett of the National Weather Service said the eye of Typhoon Champi made a turn toward the west, “diving just south of the island of Guam,” and keeping the worst conditions offshore.
“This is definitely good news for Guam,” he said. “This was looking very grim for us.”
The storm moved through quickly, traveling at 14 mph.
Aydlett said at the Guam International Airport, where the National Weather Service office is located, sustained winds were between 45 and 55 mph with 80 mph gusts.
“We’re going to see these conditions continue as we go through the morning hours,” Aydlett said.
Guam will continue to experience strong tropical storm-force and low-end Category 1 typhoon-force winds as the wet side of the storm passes over the island.
The front side of the storm was relatively dry, which kept rainfall totals lower than anticipated. But the backside of the system has “an abundance of showers, thunderstorms and torrential rainfall that is going to be funneling in,” he said.
Aydlett said conditions are still dangerous, and people are advised to remain indoors until winds subside.
