A super Typhoon Bavi is barreling toward Guam and the U.S. Mariana Islands, with landfall possible early Monday and winds potentially catastrophic.

The region is still recovering from Typhoon Sinlaku earlier in the year, complicating preparedness and power restoration efforts.

Bavi ranks as one of the strongest storms of 2026, already a powerful Category 5 in the year’s tally, alongside Sinlaku and Horacio as other extreme 2026 storms.

Residents and church leaders express cautious optimism that patterns could shift, but officials stress that preparedness remains vital.

Guam Governor urges people to stay home or seek shelter, emphasizing readiness and protection for residents.

The governor reiterates staying indoors or in shelters and avoiding roads to maintain safety after prior storms.

Rota, a small island under 2,000 residents, is identified as an area of catastrophic winds, with authorities advising people to stay indoors.

Sinlaku left homes destroyed and power far from fully restored, with ongoing shortages at gas stations and some residents living in tents.

One evacuation site reached capacity by Sunday afternoon, forcing authorities to redirect people to another site, underscoring rapid evacuation needs.

Local accounts say residents’ prior typhoon experience and expected tropical-storm conditions could continue through the night despite a quick pass.

Context notes that while many tropical cyclones form elsewhere, the Atlantic basin has been quiet, highlighting broader storm activity this year.

Officials and residents are already prepping for impact, boarding windows and stockpiling fuel as typhoons become more routine for island communities.