Emergency evacuations are underway in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as Super Typhoon Bavi - a name that sounds like a trendy coffee blend but is actually a 160-mph menace - bears down on these US Pacific territories. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that the storm, expected to make landfall early Monday morning, could cause 'catastrophic' damage, with torrential rains and waves nearly 11 meters (35 feet) high. Because nothing says 'fun in the sun' like a wall of water taller than your house.

The western Pacific is no stranger to tropical cyclones, but storms of this ferocity are unusual for these islands. Scientists, however, note that climate change is making powerful typhoons more common, because of course it is. Bavi is expected to pass directly over Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands by Monday afternoon, but the NWS warns that destructive conditions could linger for eight to ten hours before and after the storm's center arrives. 'The window is rapidly closing to evacuate if directed to do so by local officials, or if your home is vulnerable to high winds or flooding,' the agency said, adding that winds 'will pose a deadly threat to those venturing outside.' So, maybe don't pop out for a latte.

Guam, a sun-soaked tourist destination with a population of about 170,000, has opened five evacuation centers in its schools, with a maximum capacity of around 1,700 - primarily for the vulnerable. By 1:00 PM local time Sunday, one site had already maxed out, sending latecomers to Plan B. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), part of the US Navy, classifies Bavi as a super typhoon with winds of 150 knots (173 mph) and gusts up to 180 knots (207 mph). That's the equivalent of a Category 4 or 5 hurricane, for those keeping score on the 'how screwed are we?' scale.

Local business owner Pinky Cubacub, 55, told AFP she spent $500 on plywood to board up her eatery. 'I cannot afford to lose so many days. It hurts,' she said. 'Because I just started, whatever we're making right now is just for rent, utilities, and my people, and supplies. I don't even pay myself yet.' Meanwhile, Japanese tourist Miku Sakurai, 25, found her return flight to Tokyo canceled and will hunker down at her hotel. 'I am scared,' she said. Join the club, Miku.

Bavi will be the 11th Category 4 or 5 tropical cyclone to hit US territory in the past decade - one more than the total recorded in the prior 57 years. A strong El Niño event is expected to push more storms into these higher intensities, because the weather gods apparently have a quota to fill. Warmer sea surface temperatures drive more moisture into the atmosphere, supercharging storms. Guam already survived one super typhoon this year - Sinlaku in April - which killed 17 people and caused about $1.5 billion in damage. So, Bavi is basically the sequel nobody asked for.