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Nock-ten intensifies to typhoon
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Posted on Oct 18 2004
Tropical storm Nock-ten intensified to typhoon yesterday as it moved closer to the Marianas region, prompting the Emergency Management Office to place Saipan, Tinian and Rota under typhoon watch.
A typhoon watch indicates that typhoon conditions may be felt on the islands within 48 hours.
At 5pm yesterday, the EMO said Nock-ten was packing 85mph winds and was moving west-southwest at 6mph. By that time, the EMO located the center of the typhoon about 530 miles southeast of Saipan and Tinian, and 520 miles east-southeast of Rota.
Nock-ten instantly gained strength while slowly moving toward the Marianas, increasing its wind strength from 75mph around 1pm, when the typhoon moved southwesterly at a slower pace of 5mph.
At that time, the National Weather Service located the typhoon about 550 miles southeast of Saipan, 550 miles east-southeast of Tinian, and 540 miles east-southeast of Rota—barely moving away from its location yesterday morning.
EMO deputy director Mark S. Pangelinan noted that Nock-ten’s southwesterly movement could spare the Northern Marianas from a potentially strong direct hit, if the typhoon maintains moving in that direction. However, Nock-ten’s forward movement slightly tilted westward later in the afternoon, threatening to move closer to the islands.
In the morning at about 7am, Nock-ten moved west-southwest at 5mph and carried maximum sustained winds of 70mph. The EMO said Nock-ten was about 550 miles east-southeast of Rota and Tinian, and about 550 miles southeast of Saipan.
The EMO advised residents to closely monitor the typhoon’s developments through the media, the emergency information hotline at 322-0220/0222, or the EMO’s website at www.cnmiemo.gov.mp.
The threat of Nock-ten came about after tropical storm Tokage spared the islands from a direct hit sometime last week.
