Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the strongest storm of 2026, struck the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands this week, flooding homes, ripping off roofs and leaving residents without power or water for over two days. The Category 5 storm with 185 mph winds followed a path similar to Super Typhoon Yutu eight years ago, hitting Saipan and Tinian after affecting nearby areas. It arrived months before the typical typhoon season, raising concerns amid ongoing economic struggles and federal funding issues.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku formed southeast of the Mariana Islands and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm. It first struck Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia, killing one person and leaving a fisher missing. Passing north of Guam, it caused flooding there before slamming into Saipan and Tinian in the CNMI, where about 50,000 people live, including Indigenous Chamorros and Carolinians. Homes flooded, roofs were torn off, and the storm lingered, with Saipan resident and former legislator Ed Propst describing it as unprecedented: “I’ve never seen anything like this, where a typhoon just doesn’t seem to leave.” This marked the earliest super typhoon Propst could recall in April, well before peak season. The CNMI is still recovering from Super Typhoon Yutu and faces an economic crisis, with tourism arrivals down more than half since the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents like climate advocate Sheila Babauta, sheltering with her infant, highlighted compounded challenges: “We are taking a devastating hit from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, compounding the urgent local priorities we already face.” Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds assured aid coordination, though her spokesperson noted potential impacts from resource constraints. FEMA pre-approved disaster relief, deploying 90 personnel and stocking supplies like 1.1 million liters of water and generators in Guam. However, a congressional stalemate over Department of Homeland Security funding, tied to immigration disputes, threatens availability. Climate scientist Daniel Swain linked the storm's rapid intensification to ocean temperatures 3-5 degrees Fahrenheit above average, fueled by warming seas. Advocates worry about long-term federal cuts to disaster and climate programs under the Trump administration.
