Typhoon Mawar: Satellite Images Show Intensity Of Storm That Battered Guam

Typhoon Mawar unleashed its power this week as it lashed the U.S. territory of Guam. Satellite images show the sheer intensity of the “strongest storm” to hit the region in years.

Mawar is now moving away from Guam after battering the U.S. territory with intense winds on Wednesday. Although the exact extent of the damages remains to be seen, there have been reports of blackouts, flash floods, fallen trees and cars being flipped over, according to AP News.

Satellite imagery of Mawar shows just how intense it truly is. For instance, in the image taken by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite, seen here as shared by the NASA Earth Observatory, one can see just how massive its scope was as it completely covered Guam and the Mariana Islands (the small dots at the center).

Another satellite image from the Suomi NPP satellite also highlights its sheer intensity while it was approaching Guam. In fact, it is the “strongest storm to hit the region in over 60 years,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The Himawari-9 satellite also caught a rather intense view of the storm as it covered the islands entirely.

Mawar was initially a super typhoon but was downgraded to a typhoon category as it weakened earlier in the week. However, it strengthened once again as it moved away from Guam, and has now re-intensified into a super typhoon. It is expected to intensify even further in the coming days.

Neighboring country Philippines, which has been keeping an eye on the storm, is continuing to monitor the situation. Given Mawar’s current movements, it may enter the country’s area of responsibility on Friday evening or Saturday morning, as per the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“MAWAR is forecast to continue intensifying in the next three days and may reach a peak intensity of 215 km/h by Sunday,” the agency noted in an advisory. “Afterwards, the super typhoon is forecast to weaken although it will remain a typhoon by the end of the forecast period.”

People can follow the path of the storm here.

As for Guam, which has been recovering, conditions are expected to improve by Thursday, and authorities are set to assess the full extent of the damages that Mawar left behind. For instance, there have been reports of impassable roads and communication issues due to internet failures, as per AP News.

President Biden already declared an emergency in Guam earlier in the week, thus authorizing the deployment of federal assistance and response efforts in the territory.

“The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures …to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the territory of Guam,” the declaration noted.