Guam has been hit by Typhoon Mawar, the strongest typhoon to pass so close to the island since 2002. The storm caused structural damage, flipped cars and snapped trees, and caused flooding in neighborhoods. There have been no confirmed deaths, but minor injuries have been reported. The flash flood threat continues overnight, with 12 to 28 inches of rain measured from Mawar. Since leaving Guam, Mawar has intensified into a super typhoon and is moving over the Indian Ocean, potentially threatening the northern Philippines, Taiwan and Japan next week. The Weather Company reports on breaking weather news and the environment.
On May 25, 2023, Guam was hit by Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 storm that caused significant damage to the U.S. territory. The storm was the strongest to pass so close to the island since 2002, leaving behind a trail of destruction that included snapped trees and flooded neighborhoods. Photos taken in the aftermath of the storm show the extent of the damage.
One image, captured by AP photographer Grace Garces Bordallo, shows Andy Villagomez clearing what remains of a large tree that once overshadowed his front yard. The tree was uprooted and toppled by the force of the storm, leaving Villagomez to clean up the debris in its wake.
Other photos from the storm show the extent of the destruction, from flipped cars to structural damage. Based on National Weather Service meteorologist Landon Aydlett, the storm turned a jungle into “toothpicks,” leaving behind a swath of snapped trees in its wake.
Despite the damage, there have been no confirmed deaths from the storm. However, government officials on the island have reported minor injuries.
The flash flood threat continued in Guam overnight on Thursday, with USGS gauges throughout the island measuring 12 to 28 inches of rain from Mawar. Since leaving Guam, the storm has intensified back into a super typhoon, reaching Category 5 strength on Thursday. It is now the strongest tropical cyclone since 2021 and is moving over the Indian Ocean, where it could threaten the northern Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan next week.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment, and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
To see more photos of the damage left behind by Typhoon Mawar, visit the Weather Channel’s website at As the island begins to recover from the storm, the images serve as a reminder of the power of nature and the need to be prepared for extreme weather events.
