Guam, 2026

Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Guam, April 10 to 16, 2026

April 10 to 16, 2026 · NWS GUM · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

5E. 8E.

The toll

Deaths
11
Injuries
5
Property damage
$526 million
Crop damage
$7.0 million
Events
3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GUM wrote it up.

What eventually became Super Typhoon Sinlaku (04W) originally crossed the Date Line at 4N around March 29, with a circulation at 4.2N 179.5E. This circulation would struggle to organize as it drifted westward and the circulation would redevelop south of Kosrae on April 4 near 2N164E.By 0000 UTC on April 6, Invest 90W had formed south-southwest of Pohnpei/southeast of Chuuk near 4.5N 159.8E. By April 8th the new circulation had lifted northwest to a position northeast of Chuuk. At 0200 UTC on April 9th 90W was upgraded from sub-low to Medium by JTWC. Aided by a strong westerly wind burst of 30 to 35kt, by 1800 UTC on the 9th of April a Tropical Cyclone Formation Alert was issued for 90W as it continued to rapidly organize. By 1200 UTC on the April 9, 90W became Tropical Depression (TD) 04W as it drifted slowly west to a position north of Chuuk (roughly 50 miles north). By 0000 UTC on April 10, 04W was upgraded to Tropical Storm (TS) Sinlaku (04W) and was located roughly 70 miles northwest of Chuuk. AT 0000 UTC on the April 10, TS Sinlaku was located at 8.2N 151.2E, at 08:22 UTC, there was a voluntary ship ob of westerly winds at 30 KT at 5.87N 147E., and westerly winds of 35kt at 2.1N 158.1E. By 0000 UTC on the April 11, Sinlaku became a typhoon (TY), nearly stationary about 80 miles northwest of Chuuk. Sinlaku continued to meander in the area as it strengthened northwest of Chuuk, becoming a super typhoon (STY) by 0000 UTC April 12. STY Sinlaku continued to strengthen as it moved north then northwest toward the Marianas. Sinlaku continued to move slowly NW with maximum sustained winds of 175 MPH on the 12th. At 1140 UTC on April 14 the western edge of the eye wall impacted Tinian and Saipan. The wind field continued to expand with Sinlaku, resulting in the maximum sustained wind and maximum gust occurring on April 14th in Guam. Sinlaku continued to move through the Marianas slowly, maintaining TS warning for Guam for 4 days. Sinlaku turned north, then north-northeast, affecting the islands of Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan in the far northern CNMI. Sinlaku finally moved out of the northern CNMI on April 18. Sinlaku became an extratropical cyclone on April 20, 2026. There were 17 deaths (direct and indirect) and 6 injuries associated with STY Sinlaku. Nine fatalities (7 direct/2 indirect or unknown) and direct 5 injuries were reported in Chuuk State. For the Mariana Islands, 2 indirect deaths were reported on Guam, while 6 direct deaths and 1 injury was reported in the CNMI. Chuuk State government estimate home and crop damages total around 96 million USD. On Guam, estimate 434.5 million USD damage to public property and 2 million USD for crop losses. Initial estimates from FEMA estimate damage cost exceed 1 billion USD across the CNMI.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Guam wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 9, 10:58 AM UTC, 10 hours 2 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 9, 10:58 AM UTC, 10 hours 2 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tiyan GU
858 PM ChST Thu Apr 9 2026

.Marianas Synopsis...
Partly cloudy skies with spotty showers and fresh to strong trade
winds are seen across the Marianas this evening. Tropical Depression
(TD) 04W is seen to the southeast of Guam. Seas of 10 feet are seen
mainly over the eastern coastal waters. Altimetry shows seas of 6 to
8 feet west of the islands, with 10 to 12 feet seen east of the
coastal waters.

&&

.Discussion...
A fairly calm and dry pattern is currently in place across the
Marianas. This looks to change over the coming days as TD 04W
approaches the region. Latest forecast track has 04W passing just
south of Guam Monday night into Tuesday. As 04W approaches,
convection will increase across the islands. Showers will begin to
increase for Guam and Rota Saturday night and at Tinian and Saipan
Sunday. The latest forecast track has 04W passing through Monday
night into Tuesday as a possible Category 4 typhoon. Based on this
track and strength, tropical storm force winds are likely across
Guam and far north as Rota as early as Monday afternoon, with
typhoon conditions possible early Tuesday morning. Tropical storm
conditions are also possible early Tuesday morning for Tinian and
Saipan. TD 04W is expected to maintain a very wet pattern across the
region through the middle of next week, with Guam and Rota likely
seeing the heaviest rainfall. We will continue to monitor this
situation closely over the next few days for any changes to the
expected conditions. Residents of the Marianas should monitor
forecasts closely over the next several days and pay heed to any
instruction from your emergency managers.

&&

.Marine/Surf...
Fresh to strong northeasterlies are expected to continue into the
weekend as Tropical Depression 04W approaches the region. Winds
will be stronger over Guam and Rota, with weaker winds over Tinian
and Saipan, as 04W passes south of Guam early next week. Tropical
storm force winds are possible early next week for Tinian and
Saipan, with typhoon force winds possible for Guam and Rota.
Shower intensity is expected to increase significantly late this
weekend, with the heaviest showers expected early next week.
Combined seas of 8 to 10 feet are expected to build over the next
few days due to increasing trade swell and wind waves as TD 04W
strengthens. Seas will be higher for Guam and Rota.

There is a high risk of rip currents along east facing reefs through
at least Sunday. Surf could become hazardous along north, east and
south facing reefs as early as Friday night, with dangerous surf
possible over the weekend into next week as strengthening Tropical
Depression 04W moves toward the Marianas. Surf will remain moderate
along west facing reefs through the weekend. There will be a moderate
risk of lightning beginning Saturday night.

&&

.Hydrology...
A very wet pattern is expected to move into the Marianas over the
weekend into next week. As TD 04W approaches the region, showers and
thunderstorms will increase, with heavy rainfall expected to begin
around Sunday night and continuing into Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Rota and Guam look to see the greatest rainfall, with totals of 10 to
15 inches, with locally heavier rainfall possible, Sunday through
Tuesday. This amount of rain will likely produce some flash flooding
across Guam and possibly Rota. A Hydrologic Statement will be issued
shortly. Now is the time to clear any drainage areas of debris to
minimize flooding potential.

Tinian and Saipan can expect lower rainfall totals, though amounts
of 6 to 8 inches are possible. This amount of rainfall is not
expected to produce flash flooding, however, urban and nuisance
flooding is possible.

&&

.Tropical Systems...
Invest 90W strengthened into TD 04W early this afternoon. 04W is
currently seen near 8N152E, moving slowly west. Latest satellite
data shows deep convection to the west of the center. 04W is becoming
more organized and strengthening faster than previously anticipated.
A Tropical Storm Watch was issued earlier for Fananu and Ulul in
Chuuk State. The latest forecast intensification and movement has
resulted in these watches being upgraded to Tropical Storm Warnings,
with a Typhoon Watch for Ulul. A Tropical Storm Watch is also being
issued for Weno, Chuuk. The latest forecast track shows 04W passing
south of Guam early Tuesday morning as a Category 4 typhoon. Based on
this path and intensity, tropical storm force winds are likely for
Guam and Rota as early as Monday afternoon, with typhoon conditions
possible as early as Tuesday morning. Tinian and Saipan could see
tropical storm conditions late Monday night. Residents of Fananu,
Ulul and Weno in Chuuk State; and the Marianas should monitor
forecasts closely over the next few days. Now is the time to prepare
for Tropical Storm to Typhoon conditions early next week, don't wait
until the last minute. For more information on TD 04W, see bulletins
issued by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center under WMO header WTPN31
PGTW, and by the National Weather Service under WMO headers WTPQ31
PGUM and WTPQ81 PGUM.

&&

.Eastern Micronesia...
The tropical disturbance, Invest 90W, that has brought numerous
heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms over the last several days
to Pohnpei State and Kosrae has strengthened to a Tropical
Depression, 04W, centered around 8.7N 152.1E this afternoon. The
depression is forecast to move west-northwest around 5 knots during
the next couple of days while it continues to strengthen. Convection
associated with 04W and troughing just to the southeast is promoting
scattered to numerous heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms across
Pohnpei State and Kosrae this afternoon. Scattered to low-end
numerous heavy showers will likely persist through tonight, with
conditions improving slightly on Friday as 04W lifts more northward.
Weak trade-wind troughs are forecast to move westward through the
period and will likely keep elevated shower and isolated thunderstorm
chances through at least Saturday across eastern Micronesia,
particularly across the Marshall Islands. Gentle to moderate
southeast winds will continue for Pohnpei and Kosrae through Friday
and become mostly gentle throughout the day on Saturday. Though,
periods of moderate winds will still be possible at Pohnpei through
the weekend. Mostly gentle east winds are expected to persist at
Majuro.

A diminishing easterly swell and a lingering, small north to
northeast swell will persist throughout the waters over the next 12
hours or so, before a northeast swell and small southeast swell
build in starting on Friday. The High Surf Advisory was extended
another 12 hours, through 3 AM tonight, for east-facing reefs of
Kosrae and surf is expected to fall below hazardous levels of 8 feet
thereafter. Surf will remain elevated along north-facing reefs at
Kosrae and east-facing reefs at Pohnpei through tonight. The Small
Craft Advisory for Pohnpei was allowed to expire this afternoon as
seas continue to diminish. Combined seas will slowly fall through
the weekend, eventually becoming 4 to 7 feet at all sites by early
Monday with seas around Pohnpei being the slowest to subside.

&&

.Western Micronesia...
Satellite imagery shows Tropical Depression 04W north of Weno slowly
drifting westward, bringing widespread showers and isolated
thunderstorms. Combined seas of 6 to 8 feet are occurring across
Palau and Yap, and seas of 8 to 10 feet are seen across Chuuk.

Significant changes have been made to the western Micronesia
forecast. Former Invest 90W was upgraded to Tropical Depression 04W
by the JTWC. TD 04W is currently located just north of Chuuk near
8.1N and 151.9E. This is the main weather feature for western
Micronesia as surface divergence keeps Yap and Palau dry through the
weekend. Weno is currently in a dry slot, but widespread showers and
isolated thunderstorms are expected to build in across Chuuk tonight
as the band of convergence sets up over them.

Marine conditions will be dangerous across Chuuk over the next
couple of days as TD 04W is forecasted to intensify into a tropical
storm tonight and a typhoon on Saturday. Hazardous to Dangerous sea
conditions will be possible across Yap early next week as TD04W
lifts just north of them. Depending on the location of the storm, a
Hazardous Seas Watch may be necessary for Yap by Saturday's forecast
package.

&&

.GUM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GU...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for GUZ001.

MP...High Rip Current Risk through Sunday afternoon for MPZ001>003.

Marianas Waters...Small Craft Advisory until 6 PM ChST Sunday for
	 PMZ151>154.

&&

Marianas: Kleeschulte
East Micronesia: Whisnant
West Micronesia: Williams

Event by event

2 tropical storm, 1 hurricane. Local standard time, as filed.

Hurricane, Micronesia

When
April 10, 7:00 AM GST to April 13, 1:00 AM GST
Where
Micronesia forecast zone
Category
1
Deaths
7 direct, 2 indirect
Injuries
5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$91 million
Crop damage
$5.0 million
Reported by
Other Federal Agency

Typhoon Sinlaku developed in northern Chuuk State, northwest of Chuuk, starting as a tropical depression 50 miles north of Chuuk at 1000ChST April 6 and becoming a tropical storm 0700ChST April 10. Sinlaku developed into a CAT 1 typhoon near Fananu on 1300ChST April 11 and continue to strength as it pulled away from Chuuk State. Fananu would exit typhoon force winds 1900 April 11. Chuuk Lagoon would only experience tropical storm wind, starting around 1300ChST April 10 and remain there until 1900ChST April 12 as Sinlaku pulled away to the northwest. Weather Service Office Chuuk on Weno would report a peak wind of 32 mph gusting to 64 mph at 0200ChST April 11. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center had the tropical storm winds exiting Chuuk State around 0700 April 13. Official reports out of Chuuk State reported 9 deaths and 5 injuries. Based on latest reports, 6 direct deaths were related to two capsized boats near Weno, with reporting suggesting all were men. One death was due to a tree falling onto a man. For indirect deaths, one was due to a tree blocking access to the hospital for a pregnant woman, and one was a man due to unknown causes. Chuuk State government estimate home and crop damages total around 96 million USD.

Tropical Storm, Guam

When
April 13, 7:00 PM GST to April 16, 1:00 PM GST
Where
Guam forecast zone
Deaths
0 direct, 2 indirect
Property damage
$435 million
Crop damage
$2.0 million
Reported by
NWS Storm Survey

Super Typhoon Sinlaku passed north of Guam and Rota and passed near or over Tinian and Saipan on April 15. Tropical storm winds started 1900ChST April 13 and ended just before 1300ChST April 16. Strong westerly tropical storm winds were recorded on Guam. The Apra Harbor Tide Gauge recorded a max wind of 58 mph at 1100ChST April 14 with a gust of 74 mph at 0155ChST April 15. Guam International Airport reported sustained winds of 55 mph at 2255ChST April 14 with a max gust of 87 mph at 1542ChST April 14. Pago Bay Tide Gauge reported a max water level of 2.03 feet (MHHW) at 0612ChST April 14. Lowest pressure measure on Guam was 976.0 mb (MSLP) at the Dandan RAWS near Inal han at 2200ChST April 14. NWS Storm Survey around Guam saw extensive coastal inundation. On the east side of Guam near Talo'fo'fo, coastal run-up to 15.67 feet was recorded as the likely absolute max, with 5.50 ft and 9.00 ft of coastal run-up measured at Inal han. On the west side of Guam 9.58 ft to 10.85 feet was measured at Asan, near the War in the Pacific Park. This flooding pushed sand up and across to Route 1 (Marine Corp Drive), along the stretch of road from Asan and northward to near Hag’t a, the capital of Guam. Ritidian on the northwest tip of Guam saw coastal run-up to 11.20 ft. Two indirect deaths were reported on Guam as an elderly pair were found dead due to carbon monoxide poisoning due to a generator running indoors after the storm passed. Crop damage was estimated to be around 2 million USD and property damage estimated around 434.5 million USD on Guam.

Tropical Storm, Rota

When
April 13, 7:00 PM GST to April 16, 7:00 PM GST
Where
Rota forecast zone
Reported by
Mesonet

Super Typhoon Sinlaku passed north of Rota and passed near or over Tinian and Saipan on April 15. Tropical storm winds started around 1900ChST April 13 and ended around 1900ChST April 16 as Sinlaku pulled away to the way north-northwest. A weather station at near Sinapalo measured a peak sustained wind of 51kt (59 mph) and gust of 69 kt ( at 0312ChST April 14 and peak gust of 59 kt (79 mph) at 322ChST April 14.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-12MaleUnknownIndirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-10MaleBoatingDirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-12FemaleOtherIndirect
Hurricane, Micronesia2026-04-12MaleUnder TreeDirect
Tropical Storm, Guam2026-07-01MalePermanent HomeIndirect
Tropical Storm, Guam2026-07-01FemalePermanent HomeIndirect

What these are

Hurricane
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or more.
Tropical Storm
A tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 34 to 63 knots (39 to 73 mph).

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Guam in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Guam, April 2026The 2026 hurricane season

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1335877, 1335879, 1336261.