Officials Monitor Circulation Near Chuuk; Expect Rains, Winds, and Hazardous Seas by Sunday

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office continues to monitor all activity in the region, including a pair of circulations near and southwest of Chuuk.

The first, JTWC Invest Area 95W, is centered near 4 degrees north latitude and 145 degrees east longitude. A second circulation, JTWC Invest Area 96W, is found closer to Chuuk Lagoon near 6 degrees north latitude and 151 degrees east longitude. Neither system is expected to amount to much in the next 24 hours, however, they are expected to merge southwest of Chuuk tonight or Saturday, then begin to head west Saturday night or Sunday. Current forecasts show this circulation then passing Yap Island Monday or Tuesday.

At this time, there remains uncertainty as to the exact intensity by the time the system passes Yap Island. Various model outlooks range from a weak circulation to a tropical depression or storm. Heavy rain, stronger winds and increasing seas are expected across Yap State between Sunday and Tuesday.

For Guam, Saturday will be dry with mostly sunny skies. Saturday night and Sunday, a shear line will drop southward over the CNMI bringing an increase in showers while also creating windy conditions with gusts up to 30 mph possible on Monday. Conditions are expected to dry out Monday and Tuesday, but winds will be slower to subside. Seas and surf will also increase beginning Saturday night and could become hazardous Sunday into Monday.

The community is advised to prepare for winds and rain Sunday and Monday. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action; clear drainage areas and unblock clogged storm drains in your area to minimize the chance of flooding. In inclement weather, do not camp, park, or hike along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

A high risk of rip currents remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through Tuesday afternoon. Dangerous rip currents are expected along east facing reefs of the Marianas. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from the shore into deeper water. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. If caught in a rip current, do not swim against the current. Swim in a direction following the shoreline, face the shore and call or wave for help.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) remind the community to avoid hazardous rip currents until conditions subside. Prepare for winds and rain by Sunday and Monday.

Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/

For more information, contact GHS/OCD Public Information Officer Jenna G. Blas at (671) 489-2540 or via email at jenna.g.blas@ghs.guam.gov.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

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Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.