Super Typhoon Sinlaku Devastates Mariana Islands in Rare April Strike

Super Typhoon Sinlaku Wreaks Havoc in the Mariana Islands

Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the strongest storm of 2026, slammed into the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) this week, unleashing catastrophic damage. The Category 5 typhoon flooded homes, ripped roofs off buildings, and lingered for more than two days. Families were forced to shelter without electricity, cell service, or running water as the storm passed.

Storm’s Path and Impact

Super Typhoon Sinlaku formed southeast of the CNMI and Guam, two U.S. territories in the western Pacific. It rapidly intensified to a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 185 mph. The typhoon first struck Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia, where it left one person dead and one fisher missing at sea. It then passed north of Guam, causing flooding from tropical storm winds, before hitting the islands of Saipan and Tinian in the CNMI.

The storm followed a path similar to Super Typhoon Yutu, which devastated the region eight years prior, destroying thousands of homes and forcing children to attend school in tents. The Northern Mariana Islands, home to about 50,000 people—including Indigenous Chamorros and Carolinians—are no strangers to destructive storms. However, this typhoon was unprecedented in its timing and intensity.

Unprecedented Timing and Local Reactions

Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck in April, more than two months before the typical start of typhoon season. Residents described the storm’s relentless nature, with one local noting its prolonged presence.

“It’s still whistling and you can still hear it going on and things are banging outside. I’ve never seen anything like this, where a typhoon just doesn’t seem to leave.”

— Ed Propst, Saipan resident and former commonwealth legislator

Propst added, “When was the last time we had a super typhoon hitting us this early in the year? This is the first that I can recall.”

Challenges Amid Recovery and Federal Struggles

The super typhoon struck at a critical time for the U.S. territory, which has faced a yearslong economic downturn and is still recovering from Super Typhoon Yutu. The storm also coincided with a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees federal disaster relief. Additionally, the Trump administration had previously proposed slashing disaster preparedness and climate change mitigation programs.

Sheila Babauta, a Chamorro climate justice advocate on Saipan and a fellow with the nonprofit Right to Democracy, described the compounding challenges:

“We are taking a devastating hit from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, compounding the urgent local priorities we already face, from coastal erosion to an economic crisis. On top of that, we’re constantly fighting ecological threats from the federal government, like deep-sea mining and militarization. Our community is strong, but even warriors need rest.”

— Sheila Babauta, Chamorro climate justice advocate

Climate Change’s Role in the Storm’s Intensity

While scientists note that Super Typhoon Sinlaku might have formed regardless of climate change, warming ocean temperatures likely increased its likelihood and rapid intensification.

“In the days leading up to the development of this super typhoon, ocean surface temperatures in the region were as high as 3-5 degrees Fahrenheit above the recent average (which is already warmer than much of the 20th century).”

— Daniel Swain, climate scientist