PUBLIC ADVISORY: Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents; Small Craft Advisory Remains in Effect

PUBLIC ADVISORY

Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents; Small Craft Advisory Remains in Effect

Issued: 9:00 a.m. ChST, Monday, August 10, 2026

Dangerous surf, strong rip currents, and hazardous boating conditions remain in effect for Guam. Rip currents will be life-threatening.

Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid boating in hazardous conditions.

BEACH AND REEF CONDITIONS

Large breaking waves of 8 to 11 feet are expected along Guam's west- and north-facing reefs through 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 13.

A high risk of rip currents remains in effect along Guam's west- and north-facing reefs through Thursday afternoon.

Expect dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

MARINE CONDITIONS

A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect for Guam and Rota coastal waters until 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 11.

Combined seas of 7 to 10 feet will be hazardous to small craft. Seas look to fall below hazardous levels for Guam and Rota by midweek as swells and wind waves relax.

SAFETY GUIDANCE

• Rip currents will be life-threatening. 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.

• Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid boating in hazardous conditions.

A strong monsoon pattern continues to produce hazardous surf and a high risk of rip currents along Guam's west- and north-facing reefs through Thursday afternoon, and may continue into next week.

Continue to monitor official forecasts and advisories:

National Weather Service Guam: weather.gov/gum

GHS/OCD: 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.