Northern Mariana Islands Tropical Cyclone Statement | Effective 04/16/2026 10:03

Headline: 
Tropical Cyclone Statement issued April 17 at 3:03AM ChST until April 17 at 10:00AM ChST by NWS Tiyan GU
Event: 
Tropical Cyclone Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
April 16, 2026 - 10:03am
Expires: 
April 16, 2026 - 5:00pm
Description: 
...TYPHOON SINLAKU MOVING NORTH-NORTHEAST THROUGH THE NORTHERN CNMI TO THE WEST OF AGRIHAN... .NEW INFORMATION... The Typhoon Warning has been cancelled for the island of Rota and adjacent coastal waters. .AREAS AFFECTED... This local statement provides important information and recommended actions for people in the Northern Marianas. .WATCHES/WARNINGS... A Typhoon Warning continues for Tinian and Saipan and their adjacent coastal waters, Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan. Although tropical cyclone watches or warnings are not in effect for Rota...possible impacts from related hazards are still a concern. Please check the latest public and marine forecasts for detailed information about additional hazards. .STORM INFORMATION... At 2 AM ChST...the center of Typhoon Sinlaku (04W) was located near latitude 18.7N...longitude 144.9E. This was about 360 miles north of Guam. Storm motion was north-northeast, 20 degrees, at 9 mph. Storm intensity was 105 mph. .SITUATION OVERVIEW... The eye of Typhoon Sinlaku (04W) is moving north-northeast and has picked up forward speed since last night, moving at 9 mph. The eye is currently west of Agrihan, well north-northwest of Tinian and Saipan. With Sinlaku continuing to push northward, the wind field has moved north of Rota. As Sinlaku moves through the northern CNMI this morning, it is forecast to curve further to the northeast, passing west, then north of Agrihan through this afternoon.
Instruction: 
Typhoon Sinlaku is now centered 315 miles north of Rota and continues to pull away to the north. Rota and the adjacent coastal waters are now fully outside of the tropical storm force wind field, but tropical storm force gusts to around 40 mph look to continue early this morning, with even higher gusts possible near any passing shower. Dangerous surf of 12 to 16 feet are still occurring across south, west, and north facing reefs of Rota, driven by the southwesterly winds. The threat of coastal inundation is starting to diminish this afternoon, but minor coastal flooding of up to 2 feet will remain possible into the weekend along south, west, and north facing reefs of Rota, mainly along west facing shores and beaches due to the wind driven waves. Surf will be slow to decrease over the next few days as swell from Sinlaku continues to pummel northern and western Marianas shores.
Area Description: 
Rota
Forcast Office: 
NWS Tiyan GU