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NMI under typhoon watch
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Posted on Dec 12 2004
Northern Marianas residents can expect periods of heavy rainfall today as tropical storm Talas continues to get closer to the islands.
The National Weather Service has placed Saipan, Tinian, and Rota on typhoon watch and advised local residents to prepare for the onset of damaging winds.
At 1pm yesterday, weather officials located the center of the tropical storm near latitude 10.2 degrees north and longitude 154.5 degrees east. This is about 680 miles east-southeast of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota; 695 miles east-southeast of Guam; 205 miles east-northeast of Fananu; 260 miles northeast of Chuuk; and 350 miles east-northeast of Ulul.
By 4pm, the eye of the tropical storm was found near latitude 10.0 degrees north and longitude 153.2 degrees east, or about 615 miles southeast of Saipan and Tinian; 610 miles east-southeast of Rota; 620 miles east-southeast of Guam; 130 miles northeast of Fananu; 195 miles north-northeast of Chuuk; and 260 miles east-northeast of Ulul.
The NWS said tropical storm Talas is expected to continue moving west at 24 mph for the next 24 hours with a slight turn to the west-northwest.
Talas is packing winds of 50 mph and is forecast to intensify slowly. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center.
Further, weather forecasters said Talas would pass about 120 miles south of Rota and about 200 miles south of Saipan and Tinian tonight.
Rota residents can expect northeast winds 20 to 35 mph this afternoon and 30 to 35 mph tonight. East winds 20 to 30 mph would be experienced on Saipan and Tinian today.
The NWS said stronger winds are possible if the storm takes a more northward track than forecast at 4pm yesterday.
“Secure outside furniture and other loose objects and update your disaster preparedness kits. Small craft [must] remain in port,” weather officials advised.
Residents are also urged to avoid reef lines, as the tropical storm is expected to result in hazardous surf at least 8 feet high.
