A Typhoon Watch and a Flood Watch have been issued for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through Sunday afternoon, according to a public advisory from the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense. Tropical Storm Champi is expected to strengthen into a typhoon by Saturday as it approaches the Marianas.
The National Weather Service Guam Weather Forecast Office reports that Champi is forecast to pass very near or directly over Guam late Sunday morning as a Category 2 typhoon. While the current forecast shows the storm passing near the islands, officials cautioned that the track could shift north or south, and rapid intensification could result in a stronger typhoon than currently anticipated.
At 5 a.m. ChST, the center of Tropical Storm Champi (29W) was located near 11.6N 156.5E, approximately 800 miles east of Guam. The storm was moving west at 12 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is expected to move generally west-northwestward.
Weather conditions are expected to deteriorate through Saturday. Damaging winds are likely late Saturday night and Sunday, with typhoon-force winds possible near the center of Champi mid to late Sunday morning.
Rainfall accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible, which may lead to flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, and low-lying areas. Surf conditions are expected to become hazardous Saturday evening and could reach life-threatening levels of 15 to 20 feet by Sunday morning. Additionally, storm surge inundation of 2 to 3 feet with wave runup as high as 12 feet is possible depending on the exact location of the storm.
Guam remains in a Condition of Readiness 3 (COR 3). Residents are advised to prepare emergency supplies for 7 to 10 days and secure homes and businesses. The National Weather Service advises small craft to return to port or seek safe harbor due to dangerous seas.
The next National Weather Service advisory is scheduled to be issued at 8 a.m. ChST, followed by an intermediate advisory at 11 a.m. ChST.
For more information, contact Acting Public Information Officer Logan Reyes at (671) 475-9600 or via email at logan.reyes@guam.gov.
