Spare a thought for the inhabitants of Tinian and Saipan in the North
Marianas Islands, who are right now experiencing a direct hit by the
centre of supertyphoon 'Yutu'. The following is an extract from the
latest warning issued by the NWS in Tinian

---------------------------------
....WINDS...
AS SUPER TYPHOON YUTU (31W) CONTINUES TO APPROACH...SUSTAINED
TYPHOON FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL
HOURS. MAXIMUM WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BE IN THE 130 TO 160 MPH RANGE
WITH GUSTS TO 185 MPH. DEVASTATING DAMAGE IS EXPECTED. COLLAPSE OF
SOME RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES WILL PUT LIVES AT RISK. AIRBORNE DEBRIS
WILL CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK STRUCK BY
THE WIND BLOWN DEBRIS WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. MOST HOMES WILL
SUSTAIN SEVERE DAMAGE WITH POTENTIAL FOR COMPLETE ROOF FAILURE AND
WALL COLLAPSE. MOST INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED...WITH
OTHERS EXPERIENCING PARTIAL ROOF AND WALL DAMAGE. MOST LOW RISE
APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED...AND
OTHERS WILL HAVE PARTIAL ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. NUMEROUS WINDOWS WILL
BE BLOWN OUT OF HIGH RISE BUILDINGS RESULTING IN FALLING
GLASS...WHICH WILL POSE A THREAT FOR DAYS TO WEEKS AFTER THE STORM.
CONSIDERABLE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO LARGE BUILDINGS IS POSSIBLE.
ELECTRICITY AND WATER WILL BE UNAVAILABLE FOR DAYS AND PERHAPS WEEKS
AFTER THE STORM PASSES. MOST TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED.
FALLEN TREES MAY CUT OFF RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR DAYS TO WEEKS.

....STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...
COMBINED SEAS WILL BUILD TO BETWEEN 30 AND 40 FEET NEAR THE CENTER
OF THE STORM BY TONIGHT...RESULTING IN DEADLY SURF CONDITIONS.
COASTAL INUNDATION OF 15 TO 20 FEET IS POSSIBLE ON WINDWARD EXPOSURES.

--
Norman Lynagh
Tideswell, Derbyshire
303m a.s.l.