Super Typhoon Sinlaku is bearing down on the Mariana Islands (a western Pacific archipelago comprising the US territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands), with sustained winds of up to 165mph expected to bring storm surges, flash flooding, and mudslides early this week. Saipan and Tinian are forecast to face the worst conditions, while a slight northward shift in the storm's path makes a direct hit on the more populous island of Guam less likely. The storm is notably rare for its timing — typhoons of this magnitude are unusual in April, well outside the region's typical June-to-November peak season.