Kong-Rey now a tropical storm

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center has upgraded Tropical Disturbance Kong-Rey (TD 23W) to a tropical storm now with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.

In the 1am advisory, the JTWC said Kong-Rey was located 340 miles west of Saipan near 15.5N 140.6E, moving quickly west at 29 mph.

Showers, locally heavy rainfall, and strong gusty winds persist across the Marianas, particularly the CNMI where peak winds gusts of 50-55 mph overnight are subsiding now to 40-45 mph. Those sustained winds of 25-35 mph yesterday and overnight are subsiding to 20-30 mph this morning.

Gusty winds persist across the region but are gradually pulling westward will slow but steady improvement across the Marianas. Strong gusty winds and showers/thunderstorms also persist across areas of western Micronesia and Palau, including the outer islands of Chuuk and Yap States, where inter island boar traveled should still be delayed until conditions ease up.

For more, go to weather.gov/gum. (PR)

Weather advisory