Continued Scattered Showers Expected through Next Week; High Surf Advisory in Effect Saturday Morning

The National Weather Service (NWS) Guam Weather Forecast Office advised the latest forecast maintains a fairly wet and unsettled pattern with continued scattered showers through next week. Showers are expected to let up by mid-late morning before returning again this afternoon and evening.

Through this weekend and early next week, showers are expected to be largely episodic in nature, quickly approaching, bringing gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall.

The flash flood watch expired this morning since heavy showers were no longer expected. However, a continued overall wet pattern through next week, some smaller-scale rain-related impacts are still possible as showers occasionally move through. Another 1 to 3 inches of rainfall are possible through Sunday afternoon with higher rainfall amounts in the CNMI.

A high surf advisory will be in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, from 4 a.m. Saturday morning through Tuesday afternoon. Hazardous surf of 9 to 13 feet for Saipan and Tinian, and 8 to 11 feet for Guam and Rota are expected to cause dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Large breaking waves can knock you down and cause serious injuries. Strong rip currents can drag people out to sea. Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. Avoid venturing near reef lines facing west.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) remind the community to practice extreme caution while traveling in rainy conditions, driving below the speed limit and allowing enough braking distance between vehicles. Avoid hazardous seas, especially west facing reefs and beaches, until conditions subside. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags, and signs.

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

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.