Saipan Typhoon: NWS Instruments Destroyed, "Significantly Worse" Than Prior Supertyphoons

[hatrack]

Supertyphoon Yutu ripped through Saipan, Tinian bringing with it estimated winds of 180-mph or more. Guam National Weather Service Meteorologist Paul Stanko said they've received reports of extensive damage and power outages in Saipan. "We were getting reports that roofs collapsed, others were being torn off in some cases. We were amazed that the cell phones were still working, but now it seems that's stopped," Stanko told The Guam Daily Post.

The NWS weather instruments did not survive the powerful winds. Stanko said as the eye wall was passing northern Saipan, the damaging winds could have last three hours from midnight to past 3 a.m..

Saipan residents took to social media posting, "Insane amount of natural force, like nothing I've ever seen in my life." Others wrote that storm boards were flying away, windows were breaking and they had gathered their family into a single bedroom to wait out the storm.

EDIT

Forecasters had warned that Yutu was significantly worse than Typhoon Soudelor that hit Saipan in August 2015. "Yutu was worse than Supertyphoon Paka and Supertyphoon Pongsona that hit Guam," Stanko said.

EDIT

https://www.postguam.com/news/local/saipan-tinian-residents-assess-damage/article_b9b1f3e4-d7d1-11e8-8032-7b660aebfe00.html

[Shanti Mama]

1. My niece lives on Saipan

She said it will be months before there's any electricity. Her photos are wild. A local coffee plantation is now a field. Forests leveled. Much just gone.

[2naSalit]

2. Yikes!

Has it passed over yet? I've heard a little about it but I can imagine it's much like a giant tornado (F5). I have seen the damage from one of those, as a relief worker right after the event, and that was horrible.

[Shanti Mama]

3. Yes, it has finished with Saipan and is, I think, headed to Taiwan.

There were sustained winds of 180 and gusts to 200mph! I cannot imagine. Fortunately, the island is hilly and I don't think there's much surge damage.

What climate change?????