Overview:
Super Typhoon Sinlaku has left Saipan and Tinian in total darkness after unleashing destructive Category 4 winds, while Guam begins early recovery efforts amid widespread outages and damage. Authorities warn that although the storm is moving away, dangerous conditions persist across the region.
SAIPAN, 16 APRIL 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Saipan and Tinian plunged into total darkness after Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit both islands with 145 mph winds as a Category 4 typhoon late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.
Internet connection in the CNMI remains spotty, and efforts to contact people on the ground are meeting limited success as gusty winds of up to 75 mph continue to batter the islands.
Parts of the western coast of Saipan, particularly in central Garapan, were inundated by storm surge. Videos shared widely on social media showed flooded roads and vehicles. People were shown wading through floodwaters.
Tycoon Condition 1 remains in effect in the CNMI.
As of today, Sinlaku is 95 miles away from Saipan and has weakened slightly to 125 miles per hour, according to the latest advisory from the National Weather Service.
Sinlaku is forecast to maintain this intensity through tonight, then weaken again on Thursday.
It continues to pull away from Tinian and Saipan at 6 mph and is forecast to begin moving through the northern CNMI just west of Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan, with little change in forward speed.
The NWS forecast calls for Sinlaku to gradually turn toward the north and then northeast starting Thursday.
Typhoon-force winds extend outward from the centre up to 75 miles. Tropical storm-force winds extend outward from the centre up to 275 miles. Strong winds and gusts continue to batter the region.
“It is important to remember that even though the winds are subsiding, stronger gusts are possible over the next few days, especially with any showers that do occur,” NWS said.
As Sinlaku continues to move away, winds are subsiding over Guam and may fall below tropical storm force this evening, as well as on Thursday morning for Rota and Thursday evening for Tinian and Saipan.
In a video he shared on Facebook, Guam Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio said the island witnessed a storm surge along the western coast and at the port.
He said the Department of Public Works is working to clear access to the port to make sure that the supply lines for all the people of Guam and the island are clear going south.
Although Guam dodged the most destructive winds of Sinlaku, it still sustained significant damage, with much of the island experiencing an extensive power outage and spotty water service.
Tenorio said DPW is coordinating with Guam’s village mayors to clear debris from roads and ensure people can safely travel once the Condition of Readiness 4 is declared, when it would already be safe to go outside.
Tenorio started doing a damage assessment mid-morning Wednesday. He said that many of DPW’s mitigation efforts were effective and that there was no major flooding across the island.
“Keep your ears open for all the updates. We’re working and supporting the utility agency so they can get all of our lifelines back up, and we’re going to continue to go out there and help people,” he said.
The Guam public is being advised to prepare for the possibility of a Condition of Readiness 4 declaration, which signifies the end of a destructive threat and a return to normal activities.
An advisory from Adelup said that Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero is scheduled to make a final decision early Thursday morning on whether to declare COR 4.
It will depend on a final assessment of island-wide safety, including clear roads and manageable weather conditions.
If a COR 4 is declared, all Guam government agencies will resume normal operations and schedules.
Public schools will remain closed on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Private schools will make their own determination whether individual campuses are safe.
Motorists are being advised to exercise extreme caution, as debris, standing water, and downed utility lines may still be present. “Do not attempt to drive through flooded areas,” the advisory warns.
In a video she posted on social media, CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds of the CNMI cautioned that even as Sinlaku is pulling away to the northwest, “don’t let that fool you because typhoon-force winds still extend up to 75 miles from the centre, which means we are still in dangerous conditions.”
Citing an NWS advisory, King-Hinds said that tropical storm force winds, which is 39 to 73 mph, will last through Thursday morning and afternoon.
“Bottom line, the worst part is passing, but it is still dangerous and still threatening to life and property,” she said.
King-Hinds assured that she is in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other federal partners in Washington, D.C. to make sure the CNMI gets the help it needs.
“They’re tracking this closely. They’re engaged, and help is on the way,” she said.
King-Hinds said that help will arrive as soon as airplanes are able to land at the Saipan International Airport. …PACNEWS