NWS Issues Special Weather Statement for the Marianas; Tropical Storm Jebi Heads Toward the far Northern Mariana Islands

The National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Office Guam issued a special weather statement for Guam, Rota, Tinian, Saipan, and the Northern Mariana Islands. At 1 p.m., Tropical Storm Jebi was located about 15.8 degrees north latitude and 156.6 degrees east longitude and about 810 miles east-northeast of Guam.

Tropical Storm Jebi has a maximum sustained winds of 40 mph and is expected to intensify, possibly becoming a typhoon, and approach the far Northern Mariana Islands later this week.

There are no watches and warnings in effect for the Mariana Islands but residents of the Northern Mariana Islands, including Agrihan, Pagan and Alamagan are advised to carefully monitor the storm’s progress. On its current track, Tropical Storm Jebi is expected to pass near Agrihan earlyFriday. Any inter-island travel in the far Northern Mariana Islands should be completed by Wednesday afternoon.

Tropical Storm or Typhoon Watches may be issued as early as Wednesday for the Northern Mariana Islands.
Heavy showers, strong gusty winds and dangerous marine conditions are likely across the Northern Mariana Islands by late Thursday.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD), with guidance from NWS will continue to monitor the system and provide updates as needed. Visit the following links for the latest advisory information:

NWS Website: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/guam/
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.