 Forming as a twin cyclone with Namu , which formed in the southern hemisphere , the initial disturbance of Lola developed within the monsoon trough south of Guam . Moving eastward , the system slowly developed becoming a tropical depression , then a tropical storm , on May 17 . Lola moved over Pohnpei , becoming their most destructive cyclone since 1958 . In light of the damage caused by the storm , the island was declared a major disaster area on June 3 by the American government . Continuing to intensify , Lola became a typhoon on May 18 and turned northwest . Rapid intensification continued , with Lola becoming a super typhoon on May 19 . Peaking in intensity on May 20 , Lola recurved to the north and northeast , weakening into a tropical storm on May 23 and evolving into an extratropical cyclone later that day . 
