JIC Release No. 4 - 20W Upgraded to a Tropical Storm; Guam Remains in COR 3 - GHS OCD

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office Guam continues to monitor 20W, which has been upgraded to a tropical storm. Guam remains in Condition of Readiness (COR) 3 at this time.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions, including sustained winds of 39 to 74 mph, are expected this evening.

As of 7 p.m., 20W was located near 13.3 degrees north latitude and 144.1 degrees east longitude, about 45 miles west-southwest of Guam and 165 miles southwest of Saipan. It is moving west-northwest at 16 mph with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. 20W is forecast to intensify over the next few days, possibly becoming a typhoon west of the Marianas Friday afternoon.

CPA Passed but Gusty Winds Continue
The Closest Point of Approach (CPA) occurred around 6 p.m. this evening but the community is reminded strong winds are expected to continue overnight, even after the CPA. Although the CPA has passed, Guam can still expect tropical storm force winds of 35 to 45 mph, with gusts to 55 mph in heavier showers, through at least midnight tonight.

An urban and small stream flood advisory is in effect for poor drainage areas of Guam until 12:15 a.m. Bands of showers forming near Guam will produce heavy rain and will cause urban and small stream flooding. Overflow in poor drainage areas will result in minor flooding. Over two inches of rain have already fallen in some areas of Guam. Additional rainfall of 1 to 3 inches is expected over the area.

Practice Caution
Heavy rain is expected to continue through this evening. The community is reminded to take the following precautions:

Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Immediately move to higher ground if flash flooding occurs. Water levels can rise rapidly and sweep people away. Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and 2 feet of water can sweep your vehicle away
Stay away from storm drains, culverts, creeks, and streams.
If floodwaters rise around your car but the water is not moving, abandon the car and move to higher ground. If the water is moving, do not leave the car.
Do not camp, park, or hike along streams, rivers, and creeks. These areas can flood quickly and with little warning.
If travel is necessary, practice caution while in rainy conditions, driving below the speed limit and allowing enough braking distance between vehicles.

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

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

Click here to view NWS forecast track - Sept. 23, 7pm

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.

JIC Release No. 4 - 20W Upgraded to a Tropical Storm; Guam Remains in COR 3