NWS Advisories in Effect for the Marianas; Avoid Hazardous Seas

The National Weather Service (NWS), Weather Forecast Office Guam advised surf will build along northern and eastern shores this week. The following advisories remain in effect:

A high surf advisory is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Building trade-wind swell will cause surf to increase through the week. Large breaking waves of 7 to 9 feet are expected along north facing reefs.

A high risk of rip currents is in effect for Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan through late Sunday night. Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore. Dangerous and frequent rip currents are expected along north and east facing reefs.

Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Do not swim against the current. If able, swim parallel to the shore and back toward the beach when possible. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Rip currents are life threatening.

A small craft advisory remains in effect for the coastal waters of Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan until 6 p.m. Saturday. Northeast winds of 15 to 25 knots and combined seas of 8 to 11 feet will produce hazardous conditions for small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid sailing in these conditions.

An airport wind advisory is in effect for the Guam International Airport until 7 p.m. Winds at 15 to 18 knots with gusts to near 29 knots are expected from the northeast. Be alert and take precautions as needed.

The Offices of Guam Homeland Security and Civil Defense (GHS/OCD) remind the community to avoid hazardous seas, until conditions subside. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags, and signs.

Visit the following links for the latest 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

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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.