Rota Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands
Municipality storm and disaster record · FIPS 69100 · population 1,872
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 68 records for Rota Municipality, Northern Mariana Islands from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 61 days; the most frequent are hurricane and tropical storm records (48 records). 68 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the October 24, 2018 hurricane, filed for the forecast zone Northern Marianas, which covers the county: 1 death, 121 injuries and $589 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1987, 24 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Super Typhoon Bavi” on August 3, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 68on 61 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 3146 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $742Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Rota Municipality most?
The most frequent records are hurricane and tropical storm records: 48 since 1997. 48% of its hurricane and tropical storm records since 1997 fell in September and October. Census land area gives no figure for Rota Municipality under this code, so it carries no per-area rank.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 48 | 41 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 145 | $741M | – |
| Drought | 10 | 10 | 2016-2025 | 0 | 0 | $8K | – |
| Rip currents and high surf | 5 | 5 | 2001-2016 | 2 | 1 | $67K | – |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | – |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | $19K | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
When was the last damaging storm in Rota Municipality?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 13, 2025 drought ($8,250 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | Tropical StormRota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-07 | Tropical DepressionNorthern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-26 | Tropical StormNorthern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-24 | Tropical DepressionRota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-01 | DroughtRota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-13 | DroughtRota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 1 | 121 | $589M | |
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $589M | |
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Rota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $589M | |
| 2015-05-14 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Rota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | |
| 2014-09-26 | Rip CurrentNorthern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 1 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas A tropical disturbance was noted just northwest of Kosrae on the morning of October 21 near 8N160E. By the morning of October 22 the system had become Tropical depression 31W and was 130 miles north-northwest of Pohnpei. 31W continued to intensify through the day and by the afternoon of the 22nd became Tropical Storm ... | 1 | 121 | $589M | |
| 2014-09-26 | Rip CurrentNorthern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas A 26 year old Marine from the Marine Wing Communication Squadron 18 based in Okinawa, Japan, was taking part in Exercise Valiant Shield and Forager Fury on Tinian. He went into the ocean on the northwest side of Tinian to cool off. It was reported that he was swept over the reef. He may have been caught in a rip ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-03-04 | Rip CurrentRota Municipality · forecast zone Rota A 43-year-old man was apparently overcome by rip currents at Swimming Hole Beach on Rota and drowned. His body was found just outside the reef. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2004-08-22 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas TYPHOON CHABATropical Depression 19W began about 35 miles northeast of Enewetak early on the morning of August 19th, and became Tropical Storm Chaba that evening 110 miles northwest of Enewetak. Chaba moved west-northwest, then west over the next two days, and was upgraded to a typhoon late on the 21st, about 350 ... | 0 | 13 | $28M | |
| 2002-12-08 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Rota Municipality · forecast zone Rota A circulation became Tropical Depression 31W early on the morning of the 3rd. It was about 70 miles north-northeast of Kosrae. It quickly became Tropical Storm Pongsona later that morning. On the evening of the 5th it became Typhoon Pongsona, it was150 miles east-northeast of Chuuk. Typhoon Pongsona's eye crossed the ... | 0 | 10 | $82M | |
| 2009-09-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas Tropical Depression 15W developed from a disturbance about 700 miles east of Guam on the 12th of September, and quickly intensified into Typhoon Choi-wan on the 13th. Moving steadily west-northwest toward the far northern Marianas, Choi-wan became a super typhoon just before passing directly over Alamagan Island at ... | 0 | 1 | $41K | |
| 2003-07-21 | Rip CurrentTinian, Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more Scott Norman, 50 years old, went to the cliffline at Taga Beach in Tinian and jumped in the water. A few minutes later Norman tried to swim ashore, but strong waves and currents pulled him away from the shore. He then yelled for help. James Manuel, who was sitting under a pine tree at the time, heard Norman's cries ... | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-24 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $589M | |
| 2002-12-08 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Rota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 10 | $82M | |
| 2004-08-22 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 13 | $28M | |
| 1997-11-02 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 1997-12-15 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Songsong, Rota Municipality | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | |
| 2004-06-27 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | |
| 2005-08-31 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Northern Islands Municipality and 3 more · forecast zone Northern Marianas | 0 | 0 | $3.8M | |
| 2015-05-14 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Rota Municipality · forecast zone Rota | 0 | 0 | $3.1M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Rota Municipality's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 20 | 11 | 8 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
48% of its hurricane and tropical storm records since 1997 fell in September and October. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 1 · Feb 0 · Mar 2 · Apr 4 · May 8 · Jun 7 · Jul 6 · Aug 8 · Sep 10 · Oct 14 · Nov 2 · Dec 6 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rota Municipality
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Rota Municipality: 17 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for typhoon (18) and tropical storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4931 | Typhoon | Super Typhoon Bavi |
| 2026-07-03 | EM-3647 | Tropical Storm | Typhoon Bavi |
| 2026-04-23 | DR-4910 | Hurricane | Super Typhoon Sinlaku |
| 2026-04-11 | EM-3645 | Tropical Storm | Typhoon Sinlaku |
| 2023-10-08 | EM-3602 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Bolaven |
| 2023-06-02 | DR-4716 | Tropical Storm | Typhoon Mawar |
| 2023-05-22 | EM-3593 | Tropical Storm | Typhoon Mawar |
| 2020-04-01 | DR-4511 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3463 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-10-20 | EM-3425 | Typhoon | Typhoon Bualoi |
| 2019-10-07 | EM-3424 | Typhoon | Typhoon Hagibis |
| 2018-10-26 | DR-4404 | Typhoon | Super Typhoon Yutu |
| 2018-10-23 | EM-3408 | Typhoon | Typhoon Yutu |
| 2018-09-29 | DR-4396 | Typhoon | Typhoon Mangkhut |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3402 | Typhoon | Typhoon Mangkhut |
| 2015-08-05 | DR-4235 | Typhoon | Typhoon Soudelor |
| 2005-11-08 | DR-1611 | Typhoon | Typhoon Nabi |
| 2004-08-26 | DR-1541 | Typhoon | Flooding, High Surf, Storm Surge, and High Winds As A Result of Super Typhoon Ch |
| 2004-07-29 | DR-1532 | Typhoon | Flooding, High Surf, High Winds, and Wind-Driven Rain Associated W Typh Tingting |
| 2002-12-11 | DR-1447 | Typhoon | Super Typhoon Pongsona |
| 2002-08-06 | DR-1430 | Typhoon | Typhoon Chata'an |
| 1997-12-24 | DR-1194 | Typhoon | Super Typhoon Paka |
| 1997-12-08 | DR-1192 | Typhoon | Super Typhoon Keith |
| 1990-02-05 | DR-854 | Typhoon | Typhoon Koryn |
| 1988-01-20 | DR-811 | Typhoon | Typhoon Roy |
| 1987-11-03 | DR-800 | Typhoon | Typhoon Lynn |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Hurricanes and tropical storms in Northern Mariana IslandsThe state's hurricane and tropical storm records, by county, year and month
- The Northern Mariana Islands recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Rota MunicipalityThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rota Municipality's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis