The Northern Marianas appears to have withstood the torrential rains and howling winds of Typhoon Champi as it continues to move away from the islands.
Governor Eloy Inos has maintained Tropical Storm Condition One on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, while lifting the storm warning on Pagan, Alamagan, and Agrihan in the Northern Islands.
Our correspondent says there were reports of flooding in low-lying areas of Saipan, and an island-wide blackout occurred during the height of the storm as nine power poles of the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation went down.
Classes at the Northern Marianas College remain cancelled today.
As of 5am today local time, the now-downgraded Tropical Storm Champi was moving west-northwest at 11 kilometres an hour, and was spotted 313 kilometres west-northwest of Saipan, 313 kilometres northwest of Tinian, 354 kilometres northwest of Rota, 362 kilometres southwest of Agrihan, 200 kilometres west-southwest of Pagan, and 313 kilometres west-southwest of Alamagan.
The National Weather Service in Guam says Champi's maximum sustained winds remain at 120 kilometres per hour.
Champi is expected to continue to intensify over the few next days.
Satellite image of Typhoon Champi Photo: Supplied