Typhoon Warning For Northern CNMI

Mark Rabago
RNZ Pacific CNMI correspondent

RNZ
Pacific reporters

Authorities in the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) have issued a typhoon
warning for the territory’s Northern Islands, as Typhoon
In-fa approaches with destructive winds.

CNMI governor
David Apatang has declared Typhoon Condition III for
Agrihan, Pagan and Alamagan.

The warning means
destructive winds of at least 74 miles per hour are possible
within the next 48 hours.

In-fa was a category 4
typhoon at 1pm Wednesday local time, with maximum sustained
winds of 140 miles per hour.

The storm was located
about 905 miles east of Saipan, moving west-northwest at 10
miles per hour.

Forecasters say In-fa could strengthen
into a super typhoon on Wednesday night.

Tropical
storm-force winds are expected to begin affecting Pagan and
Alamagan late Friday morning, with the typhoon forecast to
pass between Pagan and Agrihan at around
7pm.

Conditions are expected to ease in the early
hours of Saturday, with improving weather by
sunrise.

Residents of the northern islands have been
urged to remain in safe shelter from Friday morning until
sunrise on Saturday.

They are also being advised to
secure essential supplies, including food, water,
medication, flashlights, batteries and radios.

No
typhoon condition has been declared for Saipan, Tinian or
Rota.

However, rain bands from In-fa could bring heavy
showers to those islands on Friday, while seas and surf are
expected to build from Thursday night.

Authorities are
advising residents to avoid north- and east-facing
shores.

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