Typhoon Bavi (2026)
Pacific typhoon in 2026
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Typhoon Bavi,[nb 1] known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Inday, is a large and powerful tropical cyclone that is heading for the Philippine Sea, where it is currently threatening Taiwan and China. It is the ninth named tropical storm, third typhoon and second violent typhoon of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season. Bavi was the second violent typhoon of the season to affect the Mariana Islands, after Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall on Tinian in April.
Bavi at peak intensity briefly before narrowly swiping Rota early on July 6 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | June 30, 2026 |
| Violent typhoon | |
| 10-minute sustained (JMA) | |
| Highest winds | 205 km/h (125 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 910 hPa (mbar); 26.87 inHg |
| Category 5-equivalent super typhoon | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/JTWC) | |
| Highest winds | 285 km/h (180 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 901 hPa (mbar); 26.61 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Damage | Unknown |
Areas affected |
|
Part of the 2026 Pacific typhoon season | |
The origins of Bavi started as a disturbance just east-southeast of Kwajalein on June 25, over favorable conditions. Seven days later, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) designated the disturbance as Tropical Depression 09W. It later received the name Bavi by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) early on July 2 as it continued to organize over very warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear. Both agencies later upgraded Bavi into a typhoon as it quickly intensified. Rapid intensification ensued, and Bavi became a super typhoon less then a day later as a Category 5-equivalent typhoon according to the JTWC. An eyewall replacement cycle ensued causing some slight weakening overnight on July 4, but the typhoon quickly re-strengthened the following day before it passed very close to Rota in Northern Mariana Islands at peak intensity; the JMA estimated maximum sustained winds of 205 km/h (125 mph) and a central pressure of 910 hPa (27 inHg), while the JTWC assessed peak 1-minute sustained winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) and central pressure of 901 hPa (26.6 inHg). Late on July 7, PAGASA gave the local name Inday even though it was about to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) until it did so at 03:00 PHT of July 8 (19:45 UTC of the previous day).
Meteorological history
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depressionOn June 25, 2026, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) marked a low-pressure area that formed 901 nautical miles (1,669 km; 1,037 mi) east-southeast of Kwajalein, with satellite imagery indicated that the disturbance was in a favorable development for tropical cyclogenesis.[2] Four days later, at 13:00 UTC, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) issued a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert (TCFA) for the system, indicated that the disturbance had been gradually intensifying over favorable conditions.[3] Early on July 1, JTWC upgraded the disturbance into a tropical depression, assigning the designation as 09W.[4] At 00:00 UTC on July 2, 09W was upgraded into a tropical storm, gaining the name Bavi by the JMA.[5] Under increasingly favorable conditions, consisting of sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of 29–30 °C (84–86 °F), low wind shear of 5–10 kn (5.8–11.5 mph; 9.3–18.5 km/h) and high moisture levels, Bavi intensified quickly, with the JTWC upgrading Bavi to a typhoon at 18:00 UTC that day, with the JMA following suit six hours later.[6] Bavi then began a period of explosive intensification, with the JTWC assessing the system's 1-minute sustained winds increasing from 70 kn (80 mph; 130 km/h) at 18:00 UTC July 2 to 125 kn (145 mph; 230 km/h) at 12:00 UTC July 3, in only 18 hours, making it a Category 4-equivalent typhoon, as a well-defined eye quickly emerged within a sharply defined central dense overcast (CDO) surrounding it.[7][8] The outflow also expanded massively and improved in all quadrants. At the same time, the JMA upgraded Bavi to a very strong typhoon.[9]
At 21:00 UTC the same day, JTWC upgraded Bavi into a super typhoon, with estimated 1-minute winds of 140 knots (260 km/h; 160 mph), making it a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon.[10] Later on, JMA upgraded Bavi to a violent typhoon.[11] On July 4, the typhoon weakened slightly due to an eyewall replacement cycle,[12] however by the following day it re-intensified back to a Category 5-equivalent super typhoon. At 08:40 local time on July 6 (22:40 UTC on July 5), Bavi passed extremely close to the northern coast of the island of Rota at peak intensity, with JTWC assessing its 1-minute sustained winds of 285 km/h (180 mph) and a central pressure of 901 hPa (mbar; 26.61 inHg), becoming one of the strongest typhoons in history to affect the Northern Mariana Islands.[13] On July 7, another eyewall replacement cycle occurred, causing the storm to weaken below super typhoon strength.[14] Even though it was still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on July 7, PAGASA subsequently gave the local name Inday.[15]
Preparations
Guam
On July 2, Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero declared a state of emergency as territory officials began preparing for Bavi.[16] Two days later, a typhoon warning was issued for Guam and surrounding islands.[17] Emergency evacuations were carried out on July 5.[18] Authorities said the island could see 8–12 inches (200–300 mm) of precipitation, resulting in potential flash floods.[19] All flights had been canceled at main airports in Guam and operations were suspended at several ports.[20]
Northern Mariana Islands
An extreme wind warning was issued for Rota, with widespread destructive winds in excess of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) expected. The National Weather Service warned that going outside could result in death from flying projectiles, with unreinforced structures being destroyed and utility poles and power lines being downed.[21] They added that nearly all trees will be snapped or uprooted, power outages will last for weeks to possibly months and much of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer.[22] Emergency evacuations were carried out on July 5.[18]
Philippines
Even though Bavi was still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) and gave the local name Inday, PAGASA raised Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1 over the northeastern portion of Cagayan (later the whole province).[23] The agency also subsequently raised Signal No. 1 over Apayao, Babuyan Islands, Batanes, northern and central portions of Catanduanes and Isabela, and the northern portion of Aurora when Bavi entered PAR.[24]
Impact
Guam
On Guam, the typhoon caused torrential rains and hurricane-force winds.[22]
Northern Mariana Islands
The center of the typhoon passed only 2 miles off the northern coast of Rota on July 6, bringing torrential rains and hurricane-force winds.[22][25] Major damage was reported, including flooding and strong winds.[26] A communications tower fell, causing cell phone services to go down.[27] All flights had been canceled at main airports in the Northern Mariana Islands and operations were suspended at several ports.[20]
Flash flood warnings were put into effect for Saipan and Tinian.[22] An island-wide power outage was reported in Saipan.[20]
Responses
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated that they will support Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as soon as the typhoon moves through.[28]
See also
Notes
- The name Bavi (Vietnamese: Ba Vì, [ʔɓaː˧˧ vi˨˩]) was contributed by Vietnam and refers to the Ba Vì mountain range in Vietnamese.[1]