Rain, winds lash Guam as Typhoon Mawar closes in and residents shelter
CTV
Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at the tiny U.S. territory of Guam on Wednesday as residents with nowhere to go hunkered down to face the devastating winds and torrential rains from what was expected to be the worst storm to hit the Pacific island in decades.
Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at the tiny U.S. territory of Guam on Wednesday as residents with nowhere to go hunkered down to face the devastating winds and torrential rains from what was expected to be the worst storm to hit the Pacific island in decades.
The U.S. military sent away ships, residents stockpiled supplies and anyone not living in a concrete house was urged to seek safety elsewhere ahead of the typhoon, which was forecast to arrive as a Category 4 storm with winds of 140 mph (225 kph) but could possibly strengthen to a Category 5, the most powerful. The last time a Category 5 directly hit Guam was 1962.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service office in Guam said they were seeing "almost whiteout conditions" at their office and hearing low rumblings and shaking shutters and doors as the storm intensified Wednesday afternoon.
Lightning had become an increasing threat as conditions continued to deteriorate into the evening, the weather service reported. And an extreme wind warning was in effect for northern Guam for extremely dangerous hurricane winds.
"Stay inside. Trees are coming down; power lines are coming down," said Brandon Aydlett, a meteorologist with the service. "Everything is changing -- it is too dangerous to be outside."
Many communities on the 212-square-mile (549-square-kilometre) island had lost power by the afternoon and some to the south had lost water service. A flash flood warning was issued for the entire island as forecasters predicted as much as 25 inches (64 centimetres) of rain in addition to a life-threatening storm surge of 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 2 metres).
Ahead of the storm, Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero ordered residents of coastal, low-lying and flood-prone areas of the territory of over 150,000 people to evacuate to higher elevations. The highest point on the island is Mt. Lamlam in the southwest at 1,334 feet (406 metres). But much of the beachfront tourist district of Tamuning, where many resort hotels are located, is close to sea level.
Friday marks the first official day of spring in the northern hemisphere, but it will still feel like winter this weekend for many Canadians, as snow, sleet, rain and sub-zero temperatures are forecast across the country.
A social media post from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week shows a big-eyed macaque staring out from behind bars.
Young people in southeast England and beyond are lining up for the meningitis B vaccine after an outbreak killed two people, sparking supply warnings from pharmacies and raising broader questions about the best public health response to the disease.
Many wage earners are engaging in “microshifting,” a flexible scheduling approach that involves tackling job duties in short, productive bursts instead of a single nine-to-five stretch.
Tyson Atleo, a hereditary leader of the Ahousaht First Nation, says the creation of three new forestry areas to be managed by his community and two others on the west coast of Vancouver Island marks the realization of a long-standing promise.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries worldwide, Canadian universities are emerging as key players – not only in developing technology but in teaching students how to use it responsibly.
Switching up your exercise routine does more than fight boredom. Engaging in varied forms of movement may significantly boost your longevity, according to research.
A seven-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Ottawa’s Rothwell Heights neighbourhood is currently the most expensive home on the market in the capital.
David Suzuki, the geneticist-turned-environmentalist, who is days away from his 90th birthday, reflected on his legacy as he prepared to release his latest book, “Lessons from a Lifetime,” which compiles photos and stories from his life, as well as testimonials written by those he inspired.
Microsoft subsidiary Bethesda said Tuesday hit space exploration game “Starfield” will appear on rival Sony’s PlayStation 5, effectively ending the practice of keeping some releases exclusive to Xbox consoles.
A woman visiting her family in Canada from the United States became ill and was admitted to the hospital, and without travel insurance, the family was shocked to get a bill for more than $110,000.
Renowned Canadian angler Jeff Gustafson back in Kenora Ont. after Bassmaster Classic absence.
A special weather statement remains in effect for Toronto Tuesday morning with winds gusting up to 80 km/h in some areas after an overnight snowfall.