BREAKING NEWS: Typhoon on track to pass CNMI late Monday

Tropical Storm 22W is now a tropical storm.

A typhoon watch remains in effect for Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. Damaging winds of 39 mph or more are possible Monday, and typhoon force winds of 74 mph or greater are possible Monday night or Tuesday morning.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for Guam. Damaging winds of 39 mph or higher are possible Monday or Monday night.

Based on information received from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam, and compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center-State Warning Point, as of 7pm tonight, Tropical Storm 22 was located about 745 miles southeast of Alamagan, about 660 miles east-southeast of Saipan, about 665 miles east-southeast of Tinian, about 670 miles east-southeast of Rota, about 685 miles east-southeast of Guam, and about 305 miles northeast of Chuuk.

Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph. It is moving west-northwest at 18 mph.

A west-northwest motion is expected through Sunday with a decrease in forward speed, followed by a gradual turn to the northwest on Monday. This track brings Tropical Storm 22W near the Marianas Monday afternoon.

An NWS Facebook post states that this track holds steady with the forecast of 6 hours ago, showing a passage near Tinian or Saipan late Monday and early Tuesday as a typhoon. This can still change in subsequent forecasts: this track can drop a little to the south or farther to the north. Several forecast models pass 22W north of Saipan, therefore, everyone on Guam and in the CNMI should keep a close watch on this storm.

Maximum sustained winds have increased to 40 mph. It is expected to intensify over the next couple of days, and is expected to become a typhoon by Monday.

Because of the anticipated threat, Typhoon Condition 3 has been declared for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. That means damaging winds of 74-95 mph are possible within 48 hours.

The CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point will be monitoring the movement of Tropical Depression 22W and will be issuing out 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 via phone at 211, or call CNMI EOC State Warning Point at 237-8000 or 664-8000, and for the Northern Islands to contact the EOC State Warning Point at high frequency single side band radio on frequency 5.205.0.

An intermediate bulletin will be issued at 11pm followed by the next scheduled bulletin at 2am Sunday morning. (Saipan Tribune)