On May 23, 2023, a powerful typhoon approached the Mariana Islands located in the North Pacific Ocean. According to press accounts, Typhoon Mawar, a severe storm, inflicted significant damage upon the U.S. island of Guam, making it one of the most powerful storms to impact the region in recent decades.

The image acquired by Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the NOAA-20 satellite indicated that Mawar approached Guam with sustained winds of about 140 miles per hour. The typhoon’s cloud bands covered the entire islands and brought heavy winds and rain.

At about 9 p.m. local time on May 24, the typhoon reached its category 4 strength between the islands of Guam and Rota. The eye’s southern wall eventually passed over much of Guam, delivering the most powerful winds to the northern-third of the island. On May 25, Mawar moved northwest and passed the islands, leaving the consequences behind. The reports claimed that the typhoon resulted in widespread power outages, downed trees, and coastal flooding.

Scientists are collecting more data to learn more about tropical typhoons. The shoebox-sized satellites are used to collect a number of information about temperature, precipitation, water vapor, and clouds.

Image Source: https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151388/typhoon-mawar

Reference : Typhoon Mawar. (n.d.). https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/151388/typhoon-mawar