Tropical Storm Sinlaku rapidly intensified into a super typhoon in early April 2026, affecting the western Pacific. It prompted typhoon watches for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, with ports closing and states of emergency declared as it approached with winds up to 175 mph.[1][2][4][5][9]
Current Status
As of April 15, 2026, Sinlaku made landfall overnight in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), including Saipan and Tinian, and near Guam, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Winds reached 200 km/h in some areas, with ongoing tropical storm-force winds expected until Thursday morning; officials urge residents to remain in shelters.[8]
Impacts and Warnings
The storm brought heavy rains, flooding risks, and power outages across the islands, marking it as the strongest global storm of the year so far. Federal assistance is being requested, and airports like Saipan International face disruptions. It strengthened from a tropical storm on April 9 outside the Philippines' area, later named "Caloy" locally but veering away without major Philippine impact.[2][5][6][7][8]
Sources
Super Typhoon Sinlaku is expected to cross the island chain that includes Guam in the western Pacific Ocean with winds of up to 175 mph.
www.cbsnews.comSuper Typhoon Sinlaku is forecast to track close to Guam and potentially bring significant impacts to the Northern Mariana Islands over the coming days.
www.goodmorningamerica.comAs of 2:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Tropical Storm with the international name "SINLAKU" (formerly LPA 04a) is being monitored within the monitoring domain of Pagasa. - Photo
newsinfo.inquirer.netTropical cyclone Sinlaku has developed into a severe tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday evening.
www.gmanetwork.comDamaging winds of 39 mph from Tropical Storm Sinlaku are expected within 48 hours.
www.pacificislandtimes.comA super typhoon with ferocious winds and heavy rains made landfall in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) overnight, destroying homes and infrastructure.
www.abc.net.auThe National Weather Service today issued a typhoon watch for Guam and the Northern Marianas as it continued to track the slow-moving Tropical Storm Sinlaku, which was still hovering over Chuuk, packing winds of 70 mph as of 7 a.m.
www.pacificislandtimes.comTropical cyclone Sinlaku has developed into a severe tropical storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), the state weather bureau PAGASA said Friday evening.
www.gmanetwork.comSuper Typhoon Sinlaku, the most powerful storm recorded globally this year, is barreling toward the Northern Mariana Islands. Forecast to make landfall on Tuesday, the system is expected to bring destructive winds, torrential rainfall, and life-threatening storm surges to the remote U.S. Pacific territories. Super Typhoon Sinlaku: Monster Storm Barrels Toward Remote US Islands in Pacific Ocean, Authorities on Alert.
www.latestly.com