As of July 9, 2026, Typhoon Bavi is churning through the western Pacific Ocean, moving toward Taiwan and eastern China after causing significant destruction in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. According to the National Weather Service, Bavi struck the island of Rota at 9 a.m. local time Monday (7 p.m. EDT Sunday) as a Category 5 typhoon, with peak sustained winds in the eyewall near 180 mph. This event marked the first time a Category 5 storm passed directly over Rota, an island located about 60 miles northeast of Guam.
Rota Infrastructure Damage and Guam Rainfall Totals
The storm caused widespread damage, including structural failure at a water distribution station near Rota’s airport. At the airport itself, power poles and lines were downed and bent. A wood structure with a tin roof was reportedly destroyed. Other areas felt the storm’s reach, with gusts of 111 mph clocked at Saipan International Airport and the National Weather Service in Guam, while a gust to 94 mph was recorded on Tinian. In Guam, heavy rain and storm surge caused flooding, leaving lanes of Route 1 (Marine Corps Drive) impassable due to rocks and debris. Guam International Airport recorded 15.68 inches of rain on July 4-5, with over 12 inches falling on July 5 alone.
Taiwanese Military Mobilization and Fishing Fleet Sheltering
As Bavi tracks northwest, authorities in Taiwan and China have mobilized. In Taiwan, the defence ministry has placed approximately 29,000 soldiers on standby. Authorities warned that Bavi could bring up to one meter (3.3 feet) of rain to mountains north of Taipei. In Suao, hundreds of fishing boats crowded into port for shelter. Chen Ming-hui, captain of a 3-metric-ton fishing vessel, stated, “Don’t be fooled by the nice and calm weather now. A storm like this could be the most terrifying.”
Jason Chang, a forecaster at Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration, described the storm’s scale: Storms of this size have been ‘fairly rare in recent years,’ adding that Bavi is set to be the largest storm by size to hit the island since 1987. The storm spans about 1,000 km (621 miles) at its widest point, roughly the width of France. Taoyuan International Airport reported that Taiwanese airlines have cancelled all Saturday departures.
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways Flight Cancellations
In Japan, the meteorological agency warned residents of Okinawa Prefecture to remain on high alert for violent winds, landslides, flooding, and storm surges. Japan Airlines cancelled 50 flights for Friday, affecting about 7,600 passengers, while All Nippon Airways cancelled 34 flights affecting around 1,800 travelers. Further cancellations are planned for Saturday.
The storm approaches as rescue workers in China’s Guangxi region continue to search for victims of Typhoon Maysak, which killed at least 39 people earlier in the week, with nine others still missing. China’s National Meteorological Centre forecasts that Bavi will skirt northern Taiwan before making landfall in Fujian province on Saturday evening.
Experts cite the influence of warm oceans and potential El Nino conditions on the storm’s intensity. Xiangbo Feng, a tropical cyclone researcher at Imperial College London, noted, “We should pay much attention to Bavi as it has spent a long time intensifying over the open Pacific, extracting energy from warm oceans and accumulating large amounts of moisture.” Jason Nicholls, an expert at AccuWeather, stated, “Some loss of wind intensity is anticipated starting Thursday, but Bavi will remain a dangerous storm as it impacts Taiwan and eastern China later Friday into Monday.”
Bavi first became a tropical storm on July 1, rapidly strengthening into a typhoon, then a super typhoon later that day. While the storm is expected to weaken, its large size ensures an expansive area will experience tropical storm wind gusts. Interests in Taiwan, Japan, and China are urged to monitor forecasts throughout the week.
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