# Super Typhoon Champi Causes Damaging Winds and Flooding in Guam

> Super Typhoon Champi made its closest approach to Guam early Sunday, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall. A Typhoon Warning and Flash Flood Warning remain in effect as officials advise residents to stay indoors.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-16T16:08:05.831483Z
Updated 2026-10-18T05:05:17.578898Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/typhoon-warning-issued-for-guam-as-tropical-storm-champi-strengthens-72b80b29

The National Weather Service (NWS) Tiyan, Guam, issued a Typhoon Warning on October 18 at 3:01 PM ChST, stating that Super Typhoon Champi (29W) continued its westward movement away from Guam waters [1]. Despite moving away, related hazards are still a concern for Guam and the Northern Marianas, with a Flood Watch in effect for parts of these islands [1].

Super Typhoon Champi upgraded to a Super Typhoon and made its closest point of approach to Guam at approximately 4:26 a.m. on Sunday, October 18, passing about 10 miles south of Merizo [3][7]. Forecasts on October 16 predicted Champi would intensify into a typhoon by Saturday, October 17, and track close to or over Guam early Sunday [2]. By 7 p.m. on October 17, Champi was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, located about 145 miles east-southeast of Guam [5]. Joint Typhoon Warning Center models showed its closest approach at around 5 a.m. on October 18, approximately 25 miles south of Naval Base Guam [5]. Landon Aydlett, a Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the NWS Guam Office, stated during a 5:30 a.m. briefing on October 18 that a "last-minute dive to the west" kept the most intense typhoon-force winds offshore and over far southern Guam [7].

As of October 18, damaging winds continue across Guam, with the strongest concentrated over the southern part of the island [3]. Guam is experiencing sustained winds of about 40 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 70 to 80 miles per hour [7]. These strong tropical storm force and low-end Category 1 typhoon force winds are expected to persist [7]. Winds are projected to gradually weaken throughout Sunday afternoon [3]. Heavy rain and thunderstorms also continue, with flash flooding possible in low-lying areas, roadways, and poorly drained areas [3][7]. The NWS flash flood warning for Guam was extended until 7:30 a.m. on October 18, although the flash flood watch for Saipan and Tinian has been lifted [7].

Guam remains under a Typhoon Warning and Flash Flood Warning, and is currently in Condition of Readiness (COR) 1 [3]. Officials advise residents to stay indoors within sturdy, concrete-reinforced structures and to remain away from windows until it is safe to go outside [3]. People should avoid flooded roads and coastal areas due to dangerous surf and potential coastal flooding [3]. There is a risk of downed power lines and tree branches, and residents are warned not to touch debris or drive [3]. As of 8 a.m. on October 18, 98 Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) production wells were online, with 72 operating on standby generators. All sewer pump stations and wastewater treatment plants are also online, but the Ugum Surface Water Treatment Plant was secured due to high turbidity levels caused by flooding [3].

## Evidence cited
1. NWS Typhoon Warning: Guam (nws_alerts) — https://api.weather.gov/alerts/urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.e45c43cdf22bc5e22e9e9e488eac770866bf398c.001.1
2. allatra.media (allatra.media) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGet35BZw0hTql_5jYom3IdM8VT951cnpUTwFqRz6GTBbszFM6isdV71lKgExA4X7Cy5BPIlla1WjEZNmt2xIueBSOBo0hY50LzQ1N5s1YSrjsie9CHa_iGGnic9645QIAQEXZAekdt8YO0YTPZ9Lmxipu8t8JX5O8iIMKXAJjUxlPOJj0GApeqhgoED_UBl01kEa4_Q1wciQwcE0=
3. guam.gov (Government of Guam) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQF-MCrVESGw6IAr4XAtLAH9ORBlDJlXz3c0dKO28dAIuT0WibfpJbZve1hKSXtldHcCE8NFbncwp0OfMoU1ksrKcJcpST03doViv_O9hq6WjnKMC7ZyH32POQC0tArJ-vb5FMT27y5ofm91iT_CCbzM0Aux6AaPtnB2qWSGEHPlAoj-3NkKK9_CMlV5LsN1v51wscme2Y9X6W31DHv9-3X-4yOa2Yrq_gaJz-LR-EjIjZAs
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6. guam.gov (Government of Guam) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFTU2vb_4lo-Lzlq5vjAfkQoXH0N3pbGopAN1TmCM--rr71Pi8-Z4Ky5Czyq84UdNofaRQvilmElfqr4NWSHewdlwNk6zHgWXIYPKTsEqoSCXAmvGusYYb1cddBdyDLOG7US8dk-xiFyOUXVCylXxqL7zG99BdUSdaExVZdxLpiHYFoDt2uOaxa8U_dL0SXvY3jvrgNHzH82Rxi5CeBjSgXLCzUFEVR3x7XKg48GXvxZA==
7. marianaspress.com (Marianas Press) — https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEIQ0N258PXwWgJDb7t77nRubb52qfg_KGVSWl0TuxDptEaSWcJlKKFxYRlb_eCVahUrvsbeXWbBUcA3pgd12kL0ZtSODPauXLRD8sSypzN6lLOaYAjZAGDW6O_htOShW_UBV5OI8LtMoLuO9Zc_bvuSAJJUMujKiQkrhdMeC1Y8hmmIbjYXgjMATQSqLU7YUE01eg==