Marianas to have wet, occasionally gusty southwest monsoon this week

The National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam said a wet and occasionally gusty southwest monsoon flow will persist over West Micronesia and the Marianas through the week as Tropical Depression 22W, which was located north of Palau yesterday, continues to move out of the region.

“The October monsoon pattern is alive and well across the region. TD 22W, north of Palau, continues to head out of the region, toward the Philippines, but Palau, Yap and the Marianas remain in a wet and breezy southwesterly monsoon pattern,” it said in its bulletin yesterday.

The NWS added that additional weather development in the Marianas/Chuuk region is possible late this week.

“As we continue to monitor the present rains and winds affecting the region, we also watch for the potential of a second, or even a third, circulation to form somewhere near the Marianas in the latter half of the week.”

Meanwhile, surf and small craft advisories are in effect for Palau and Yap while the Marianas remain under a flood watch for the next couple of days. The heavy rains that fell across Guam last Sunday, dropping anywhere between 3 inches in the south to 10 inches in the north, NWS said have ultimately shortened the route to additional impactful flooding when heavy rains return in the coming days.

“Weather models still depict varying scenarios, so there’s still uncertainty on the exact timing and location of late-week development. However, the unifying theme among the models is the likelihood of a continued westerly/southwesterly monsoon flow continuing into late week with another circulation eventually taking shape nearby. Any consideration of potential wind speeds associated with the late-week circulation remains speculative given the current range of model guidance.”

The NWS advises the public to continue to follow the latest forecasts, issued every 12 hours, at weather.gov/gum. (Saipan Tribune)