High Surf Advisory and High Rip Current Risk Remain in Effect for Guam

High Surf Advisory and High Rip Current Risk Remain in Effect for Guam

Issued: September 3, 2026 — 6:41 a.m. ChST

The Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) advises residents that a National Weather Service (NWS) High Surf Advisory and High Rip Current Risk remain in effect for west-facing reefs of the Marianas. The High Surf Advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. ChST Friday, September 4, 2026. The High Rip Current Risk remains in effect through Friday afternoon.

A monsoon surge will bring large swells from the southwest to the northwest to the Marianas, causing surf and rip currents to become hazardous. Surf may be slightly higher for Guam than the CNMI.

What to Expect

Large breaking waves of 8 to 10 feet are expected in the surf zone along west-facing reefs.
Dangerous rip currents are expected.
Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion.
Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

What You Should Do Now

Rip currents will be life-threatening. Residents and beachgoers are advised to take the following precautions:

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions.
If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Monitor official updates from NWS Tiyan and GHS/OCD for changing conditions.

GHS/OCD continues to monitor conditions in coordination with NWS Tiyan and will provide additional information as needed.

For the latest official weather information, visit the National Weather Service at weather.gov/gum. For preparedness information, visit ghs.guam.gov or contact the GHS/OCD at 475-9600.

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.