TS 20W JIC Release No. 6 - Guam in COR 4; Tropical Storm Mindulle Continues Away from the Marianas - GHS OCD

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office Guam continues to monitor Tropical Storm Mindulle (20W), as it moves quickly away from Guam to the west-northwest.

The Tropical Storm Warning has been canceled for Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan by the National Weather Service. Tropical storm conditions are no longer expected to occur.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and Joint Region Marianas have placed Guam and the respective military bases in Condition of Readiness (COR) 4 at 9 a.m., returning the island to “All Clear.” There were no major damages reported from the strom’s passage and upon assessment, all major highways were deemed accessible. The community is reminded to practice caution while traveling in rainy conditions through this afternoon, driving below the speed limit and allowing enough braking distance between vehicles.

“While we continue to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we must also stay vigilant to the threats Mother Nature poses to our island, most especially typhoons,” said Governor Leon Guerrero. “This event served as a reminder to our people that we must stay ready to act and heed to all the warnings and advisories in our region. For now, we are grateful to be spared any damaging impacts from Mindulle and we continue our fight to contain the COVID-19 virus.”

"Joint Region Marianas (JRM) and the Military installations on Guam have returned to Condition of Readiness 4 aligned with the Government of Guam,"

said JRM Chief of Staff Capt. Rick Kratzer. "All base services are back to normal operations with the exception of the beaches which remain closed due to inclement weather."

"The health and safety of our community is a priority, and we urge our service members, personnel and family members to continue to take all necessary safety precautions as heavy weather conditions continue in our

area. Additionally, we will continue to monitor all storm-related activity and make the best decisions for our Military community in collaboration with the Governor's office and the Guam Department of Homeland Security," said Kratzer.

Tropical Storm Mindulle made its Closest Point of Approach (CPA) to Guam, passing approximately 20 miles southwest of Guam around 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon. Official observations across Guam indicated peak winds at near-tropical storm force Thursday afternoon and evening, with gusts reaching up to 46 m.p.h. around 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Andersen Air Force Base. Much of Guam received around 4 inches of rain Thursday, with additional rainfall already this morning, and expected to continue through this afternoon. Rain bands extending well to the east of Tropical Storm Mindulle will keep periods of showers, thunderstorms and gusty south winds in place over the Marianas through at least Friday afternoon.

Power Safety
Safety is paramount. To report trouble calls, emergencies, or service interruptions to the Guam Power Authority (GPA), contact the GPA 24/7 dispatcher at (671) 475-1472/3/4.

A flood watch remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through this afternoon. Avoid camping, parking, or hiking along streams, rivers, and creeks during heavy rainfall. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.

A high surf advisory and high risk of rip currents remain in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 6 p.m. this evening. Hazardous surf of 8 to 10 feet is expected for north, west, and south facing reefs. Remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

This will be the final statement issued by the Joint Information Center unless additional action is necessary. For the latest advisory information, visit the following links:

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/
JRM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam

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

X
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.

TS 20W JIC Release No. 6 - Guam in COR 4; Tropical Storm Mindulle Continues Away from the Marianas