Pacific typhoon Sinlaku nears U.S. islands with ferocious winds
Super Typhoon Sinlaku intensified to 180 mph sustained winds (gusts to 220 mph), making it the strongest storm on Earth in 2026, as it bears down on the U.S.-held Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Rota and Tinian. Forecasters expect the eyewall to hit late Monday into Tuesday, with Guam under a tropical storm warning and flight cancellations continuing. The system could span about 400 miles, bringing 15–20 inches of rain on Guam and Rota (8–15 inches on Tinian/Saipan), plus dangerous surf, flash flooding and potential landslides; shelters opened and residents were urged to prepare for potentially catastrophic damage.