BREAKING NEWS: Tropical Storm Condition II for NI

A tropical storm warning remains in effect for Agrihan, Pagan, and Alamagan in the northern CNMI.

Tropical storm conditions, including damaging winds of 39 miles per hour or more, are expected by Saturday morning.

As of 11pm tonight, Tropical Storm Shanshan, which is gaining a little strength and speed, is about 275 miles east of Pagan, about 275 miles east-northeast of Alamagan, about 280 miles east of Agrihan, about 320 miles east-northeast of Anatahan, about 365 miles northeast of Saipan, and about 495 miles northeast of Guam.

Shanshan has maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. The center of Shanshan was located near latitude 18.5 north and longitude 150.0 east. Shanshan is moving toward the northwest at 8 mph. It is expected to make a gradual turn toward the north-northwest with a slight increase in forward speed through Sunday.

Tropical Storm Shanshan’s maximum sustained winds have increased to 50 mph. It is forecast to intensify through Sunday and could become a typhoon on Sunday.

The distribution of tropical storm force winds is quite asymmetric, extending out to 155 miles southwest of the center, up to 140 miles to the southeast, but only 70 miles northeast of the center. Out to the northwest, no tropical storm force winds are yet found.

Because of the anticipated threat of Tropical Storm Shanshan, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has maintained Tropical Storm Condition II for the islands of Pagan, Alamagan, and Agrihan as of 11:30pm this evening.

Tropical Storm Condition II means that damaging winds of 39 to 74 mph are possible within 24 hours.

The CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point will be monitoring the movement of Tropical Storm Shanshan and will be issuing bulletins as they become available. Keep a close watch on updates to weather forecasts and stay informed on the latest statements and advisories, which will be available through local media sources and NOAA weather radio broadcast on 162.5 megahertz, or call CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or 664- 8000, and for the Northern Islands to contact CNMI EOC State Warning Point at high frequency single side band radio on frequency 5.205.0.

The next scheduled advisory will be issued at 2am followed by an intermediate advisory at 5am Saturday morning. (PR)