Typhoons are the same things are hurricanes and cyclones with the only differentiation being what they are called according to the region of the world where they occur. So for Guam to be preparing for the brunt of a super typhoon, it is akin to bracing for a major hurricane.
It is anticipated that Typhoon Mawar could arrive in Guam as early as this afternoon. Winds will be strong enough to snap power lines, topple trees, and rip off roofs on houses. It is likely that water service will also be affected and lack of utilities may endure for days if not weeks. In addition, objects can be moved and become projectiles in the dangerous high winds. Currently, winds are clocking in at 50 miles per hour with forecasts of gusts as high as 160 to a staggering 200 miles per hour.
The Greatest Danger
Adding in the factor of climate change, it is water that will present the greatest dangers through flooding and storm surges that can scrub the earth and topple buildings as it moves across the land. With a storm this intense, 70% of the 30-mile-long island could be scrubbed off. For Guam, they can expect storm surges in the 6-to-10-foot range or greater, depending on the path of the eye of the storm. Should it pass close to land, the flooding will be life threatening.
Weather forecasters are predicting torrential rainfall of up to 20 inches, a perfect recipe for flash flooding. Again, climate change plays a huge factor in the potential devastation as the warmer the Earth is, the hotter atmosphere retains more moisture resulting in extremely heavy rains.
Super Typhoon Mawar may be the strongest storm to directly hit Guam since 1962 when Super Typhoon Karen brough sustained winds of 172 mph. This was nearly rivaled by Typhoon Pamela which struck in 1976 with 140 mile per hour winds.
