Super Typhoon Pongsona, Dec. 8, 2002
Super Typhoon Pongsona was the third most powerful storm to hit Guam, behind Karen in 1962 and the typhoon of 1900, according to a post-storm report by the National Weather Service.
Pongsona hit Guam on Dec. 8, 2002, with a 40-mile wide eye that passed over the northern part of the island.
Winds were 144 mph with gusts to 173 mph, and more than 25 inches of rain was recorded at the University of Guam.
“There was one indirect death attributed to the storm; a woman was cut by flying glass and subsequently suffered a fatal heart attack,” the report stated. “Medical help could not reach her due to the intensity of the storm. The Guam Department of Health reported 193 injuries, mostly lacerations and fractures caused by flying glass and other debris.”
The storm’s track kept the eyewall over the heavily populated northern and central parts of the island, and the report noted that “since such a large portion of the population experienced the worst part of the storm, there was a perception this was the worst typhoon to ever strike Guam.”
Scenes from Pongsona, 2002
A look at other powerful storms that struck Guam
Typhoon Karen: Nov. 11, 1962
Karen brought winds of 175 mph when it struck Guam in 1962, damaging almost every building on the island.
Typhoon Pamela: May 21, 1976
Pamela was already a killer storm by the time it reached Guam, leaving 10 dead in Chuuk before devastating Guam.
Typhoon Russ: Dec. 21, 1990
The eye of Typhoon Russ passed about 15 miles south of Guam a few days before Christmas in 1990.
Super Typhoon Yuri: Nov. 27, 1991
With sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts of 200 mph, Yuri passed about 50 miles south of the island, generating 24-foot waves in the south.
Typhoon Omar: Aug. 28, 1992
The eye of Omar passed directly over the island, causing extensive damage. The 1992 storm season was especially active on Guam, and in other parts of the country.
Super Typhoon Paka: Dec. 16, 1997
Paka's eye passed between Guam and Rota, generating typhoon winds on both islands.
Past storms on Guam
Karen. Pamela. Omar. Paka. Pongsona. Dolphin. Mangkhut. The bigger storms that blasted Guam are remembered.
Typhoon Dolphin: May 15, 2015
The eye of Typhoon Dolphin passed between Guam and Rota, the first time since Pongsona that typhoon-force winds were recorded on Guam.
Typhoon Mangkhut: Sept. 10, 2018
Passing between Guam and Rota overnight, Typhoon Mangkhut caused flooding and knocked out power to about 80% of Guam.