Health & Safety
United States · Direct U.S. connection
Super Typhoon Champi Moves Away, Typhoon Warning Continues for Guam and Rota
The National Weather Service maintained a Typhoon Warning for Guam and Rota on October 18, 2026, as Super Typhoon Champi tracked west-northwest. Warnings for Tinian and Saipan were cancelled, but flood concerns persist across the region.
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THE PRIMARY BRIEF
- 01 · The primary finding
The National Weather Service maintained a Typhoon Warning for Guam and Rota on October 18, 2026, as Super Typhoon Champi moved away, while cancelling warnings for Tinian and Saipan.
- 02 · The primary evidence
A Typhoon Warning was in effect for Guam and Rota. Super Typhoon Champi was moving west-northwest away from Guam's coastal waters. Tropical Storm Warning and Typhoon Watch for Tinian and Saipan were cancelled. A Flood Watch was in effect for Guam and the Northern Marianas, and a Flash Flood Warning was extended for Guam until 7:30 AM ChST on October 18.
- 03 · Why it matters
Guam and Rota remain under a Typhoon Warning, indicating ongoing hazardous conditions even as the Super Typhoon moves away. Flood threats from significant rainfall also persist, requiring continued vigilance from residents and emergency services in these U.S. territories.
On Sunday, October 18, 2026, a Typhoon Warning remained in effect for Guam and Rota as Super Typhoon Champi continued to move west-northwest away from Guam's coastal waters. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Tiyan, Guam, issued this warning at 12:02 PM Chamorro Standard Time (ChST). Earlier, at 11:00 AM ChST, the NWS in Tiyan also reported that Super Typhoon Champi was continuing its west-northwest movement away from Guam's coastal waters. By 10:44 AM ChST, the NWS confirmed the super typhoon was continuing westward, away from Guam waters.
The NWS confirmed that the Tropical Storm Warning and Typhoon Watch previously in effect for Tinian and Saipan were no longer active. However, possible impacts from related hazards were still a concern for Tinian and Saipan, even without watches or warnings in effect. A Flood Watch remained active for parts of Guam and the Northern Marianas. Separately, a Flash Flood Warning for Guam was extended until 7:30 AM ChST on Sunday, October 18, following reports of 2.5 to 5 inches of rain already fallen and flash flooding ongoing or imminent.
In the early hours of Sunday, October 18, an Extreme Wind Warning was issued for far southern Guam by the NWS in Tiyan at 3:52 AM ChST. This warning indicated that catastrophic winds of 115–135 mph, linked to Typhoon Champi's northern eyewall, were imminent over the island's southern tip. Destructive winds were expected to persist through 5:30 AM ChST.
Before its closest approach on Sunday morning, Typhoon Champi had rapidly strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 storm. On October 17, the storm was projected to make its closest approach to Guam as a Category 4 storm, with winds ranging from 130 to 156 mph and gusts potentially exceeding 180 mph. As of 09:00 UTC on October 17, the storm's center was about 140 miles east-southeast of Guam, moving west at 15 mph with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Forecasts predicted it would pass just south of Guam as a super typhoon within 12 hours of that time. The storm's rapid intensification and fast forward speed of 15 to 18 mph had moved the closest point of approach earlier than some previous models had forecast.
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